Housey

A picture of my new place. In da living room. You can barely make it out, but! there is a painting of an octopus on the wall in the living room. A comforting piece of art I must say.

Du bist! Ja! Du bist!

Stand by your man

This gives me goose bumps!

KSTDT

This morning at EWEB I was making the rounds and letting the Kindergartners play the guitar. One looks up to me and asks..what do you do? I am a student...I said. Then another butted in and said...You're not a grown up? Nope...I proudly responded.

Tonight, I went to play their Holiday Concert. I thought, you know...maybe 20 people in the audience. Nope. Try 150! Holy smokes! And all were dressed up nicely. Me in my overalls and matted down hair from my sock hat. Woof. But all in a day's work. I had a ball. And the cookies were good too!

School is done for the moment. I get the urge to just be careless and be around people at the same time. We'll see what happens. It's been a most eggselent week, tho. Lots o' music. In every sense of the word. And now! this Sunday i'ma going to Vancouver, B.C.! to see my belovéd friend John D and his bro bro. Now I pack and wait to move next week into my new abode.

How did happen that I am listening to French hard rock all of a sudden?!?!?!?

Christmas is coming! woof.

For my 100th post to this here blog I would like to announce that I am in the process of making a Christmas album. It'll be pretty small (bout' 4 songs or so). But in any case, if you would like a copy, just say "I".

Tis' the season for Christmas cookies, harmony, and getting trampled to death!

A very unhappy black friday to you all! Check it...

NEW YORK – Shoppers, who had snapped their wallets shut since September, turned out in force Friday to grab deals on the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, but it was clear worries about the economy tempered buying.
Preliminary reports from several major retailers including Macy's and Toys "R" Us said that crowds were at least as large as last year's, but many shoppers sounded notes of caution and concern.
Retailers extended their hours, some opening at midnight, and offered deals that were deeper and wider than the deep discounts that shoppers found throughout November.
Best Buy, which threw its doors open at 5 a.m. offered such specials as a 49-inch Panasonic plasma HDTV for $899.99 and a $189.99 GPS device by Garmin. Toys "R" Us was offering up to 60 percent discounts from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.
But the excitement over the early morning specials proved fatal for at least one store. Police from Nassau County, N.Y. say a Wal-Mart worker died after being trampled by a throng of unruly shoppers shortly after the Long Island store opened Friday. Wal-Mart offiicals would not confirm reports of stampede, but said a "medical emergency" caused them to close the store.
Ellen Davis, a spokeswoman at the National Retail Federation, the industry's largest retail group, said that she was "not aware of any other circumstances where a retail employee has died working on the day after Thanksgiving."
-Associated Press

This is sick America, SICK!

The past couple of weeks I have been spinning in a high speed piano playing frenzy. Mighty nice if you ask me. I've learned heaps of new music (new to me at least). One of my professors here said once that quantity eventually equals quality. I think about that and how it pertains to piano playing and any art. At least from my experience it's been true. It's not that the more and more you do the better it will get. It's more along the lines that the more you put into something and more exposure you have with something (in this case, all kinds of piano-ings) yore bound to get better. It helps to have something pressing down on you to motivate.

But as for today, it's sehr nice to have nutin' to do. Things get done like laundry, naps, groceries. Chantrelle mushrooms were on sale and boy betcha they gonna be eatin' tonight. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Rumor has it that I will be the only member of the extended Coleman and Loper families that will not be in either household for the big day. Tear...sniffle...tear.
Instead I will be scooting down Highway 58 to Dexter where my pastor and his family live. They invited me over for eatin', nappin' and potential deer hunting! I am very excited about the prospect to do some hunting but have decided that I would be equally happy to just sit and eat. We'll see what tomorrow has in store.


In other news, I was gifted this painting that someone left in the hallway of the school of music during moving. Pretty cool, huh?

I'm moooooovin'

I'll be moving to 12th and Arthur here pretty soon. I'll be living with Josh! and an engaged couple whom I've yet to meet. Josh promises me though that they are very chill and into contact improvisation and meditation. Josh's house that he remodeled is amazing! Hardwood floors, gas range, marble countertops, yellow walls, pastel colored rainbow lights bordering his living room...the list goes on. I get to have a moderately big sized bed room. Pictures to come! I move in the weekend before Christmas. Woot woot! Josh speaks verrrry quietly but sometimes will laugh surprisingly loud. He's a very nice man. 38 years old he is. He's a runner/dancer/house remodeler/the list goes on. Won't be as close to campus which is good and bad. But it's about 2 miles closer to the coast than I am now. It'll make for a nice quick getaway route to the ocean when need be.

My new favorite movie

Black Orpheus is still a powerful movie today. I think you should all see it. It's the movie that brought bossa nova to the States. It tells the story of Orpheus and Eurydice set in the 1950's in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil during Carnaval. What a beautiful movie it is! So much dancing and people who are just passionate about life. I know it's just a movie, but it makes me smile to know there are people who are sooooo into life. Anyhow, see it and it'll make you want to dance.

In honor of my father's birthday, I got some glasses in his stile. And also just because they were ready to be picked up. Maybe, though, if I shave my beard into a John Coleman mustache and keep my new spectacles, I can pull of the look-a-like just fine.

All that I mead.

I had a most wonderful birfday yessiday. Despite getting yelled at by a middle-aged woman for a poor parking job, I was gifted many wonderful things. One of which is a bottle of mead! Yes yes yes, that's right. What the vikings used to drink. My friend brews the stuff. It's oh so tasty and sweet. You should look it up online or sumpin' to learn more about it.

Behold the molasses chew!

This is one big week. Phew. Today I was asked (via email) to play for a certain preschooler's birthday party this weekend. How honored i feel! Her mom said: "We couldn't think of anything to do for her birthday until we thought 'If Jake shows up and plays music with her she'll FLIP!'" Very cool and exciting.

The other day at EWEB I was leaving after playing with the little kiddies and some of the preschoolers were out on the playground. One in particular was on the see-saw with a friend and he was singing his favorite song (I know this because I know his mom). This song was "Video Killed the Radiostar." It was amazing. He knew all the words. The kid is just 3 years old! He went on singing..."In my mind and in my car...we can't rewind, we've gone too far." Very funny.

Stress levels have been really low this week, but I've been working my tush off. All in all it's goot.

This term has turned quickly from the most busy and stressed i've ever been to...a lot less stressful. About 9 credit hours less stressful. So! If you want to come visit. Bring it.

Reflections

Since i'm full of Nyquil and painkillers I would like to take this time to write a bit.

I just finished watching Donnie Darko and really liked how it made me feel: nostalgic and hopeful. Blah blah blah....

Anyhow, I'm sick in the bed and have had an interesting week. Today after talking to my belovéd elementary music professor, I have decided to take some withdrawals from some of my classes. I'm gonna put a hold on my elementary ed masters degree. It's just plain ridiculous to try to do 2 master's at the same time. Ridiculous. I think my physical health reflects my mental health at this point, too. I just need to focus on one thing at a time. Getting sick at the beginning of a school year has become a hobby of mine. But in a way I like it. It makes you really stop and think about things. It sloooows things down and you step back from spinning around in the vortex of academia. Lord help us. Soooo, all that to say is that I will most likely finish my masters in June!!! Yay! And then....well....I have no clue. O well. I guess it's better that way.

Music

I must say that today...I don't like music. My professors has successfully driven me to this. Perfection can't be attained in a week! It's also disenfranchising when your teacher rags on the people that you are accompanying saying that "they play like they just don't care" or "they are too academic when they sing, there is no emotion." Well, music shouldn't be like that, damn it! That is exactly the reason why I don't want to pursue a career in concert performing. There are too many people making too many judgments for too many personal reasons. It just isn't right. Word to the wise...don't do a master's in music unless you rrrrrreally love it. They will do their best make you hate it.

I love cramming for tests that don't really matter that much. Ha! I love too playing little games and making up acronymns for myself to help memorize things that I probably won't use for the rest of my life but i'll still remember them. The acronyms that is. For example...Long Aunt Liggy lives below the Epi. Which means that in this diagram that I am having to remember the longitudnal anterior ligament is right below the epiglottis. Such a wonderful Sunday night this is! By the way, i'm not being sarcastic.

My cousin, Savannah, has GREAT advice for me! For us all, really.

Calm down!

Complaints

People can be the best thing or today (for example) the worst thing. My roomate owes me $400 and thinks it's okay that he waits till later in the month to pay me this said $400. Why he thinks this is okay is a mystery to me. He acts like everything is OK. I'm a pushover. Who does he think I am? Mr. Moneybags? That's one of the things I don't care too much for about the west coast attitude. "Everything is OK...it's all good...don't sweat it, dude." Hogwash, I say! Things don't get done on their own! It is not okay to assume that you can borrow $400 from someone without asking! People!

Well the rains have started again. This school year could put me under ground. But! I have purchased a planner that is helping me keep track of things. I just can't help but wonder if doing the elementary ed. path as well will take away from practice time. Hmmmm...O well, I have the rest of my life to practice.

In other news, I got a letter from the little town of San Francisco, CA. They say I owe them $100 for a parking ticket that I never paid back in June. Aha! The tickets keep 'acoming.

But some good news is that I get to wear my boots again because of the rain!

I don't wanna start school!!!! AAaaaaaa!!!!!

The calm before the storm

Yesterday all my troubles seemed so blah blah blah blah...Yesterday! I took my last chance to enjoy my summer and clear my head before school started: I went to the coast. Left the cell phone off and didn't take much of anything 'cept my overalls, sweater, sock hat, a sandwich, and some other leftovers from the night before. A decent amount of food mind you. After I finished with the EWEB kids I said a earnest prayer for my car and took off west. My first excursion was up a creek (Cummins creek). I took off my shoes and waded up the ice water a ways til i decided to come back. The best part was I couldn't hear anyone, or any motorized thing. And the smell of the forest!!!!!!! Then I hiked back out and went to play on the beach and climb on the rocks. Saw some pretty cool sea creatures and the like. Then made my way up the coast to Yachats where everything was closed at 3 in the afternoon! I just wanted some coffee for crying out loud. Anyhow I went further north to Waldport and got the joe and decided I should drive to Newport, which holds the Oregon Coa$t Aquarium (which i didn't go to) and the Rogue Brewery (which i didn't go to but wish I had the funds to). After I got there, I didn't feel at ease anymore, partly cause of all the cars and buildings and stuff and people. So I went back down the coast and played more in the water. Oh and I saw a crawfish in the creek which was delightful to see swim backwards as fast as all get out. Then i went up to Cape Perpetua and saw the sunset, but not before I saw a WHALE! Ha! A couple who had been coming there for 20 years said that was the first time they had seen a whale. It was pretty far off but you could see its spout. It must have blown the water around 20 feet in the air. Quite the sight.
Then I came back to Eugene and had a beer with friends and then watched the presidential debates til the wee hours of the morning. It's amazing how many times a minutes John McCain can bink! Anyhow, now I have to go play for a funeral. Poor Rosemary died of Dick and Rosemary at church. They used to go hunt mushrooms and sell them at the Saturday market along with flowers and things. But i don't to finish this on a sad note. I got a loooooooooooong distance phone call this morning.

"Only the Lonely"

To me, Roy Orbison is the epitome of cool.

Petuña's birthday present

Well, I am proud to say that Petuña and I have been together for a little over a year. To commemorate the occasion I bought her a new seat post and seat. I got these things from CAT (Center for Appropriate Transport). It's a place here in Eugene that you can find used bike parts, very strange bikes to rent of all shapes and sizes, work bays that you can rent by the five minute intervals equipped with tools, and a very spaced out owner who was helpful. Anyhow, my buns are very thankful for this new seat.


Also, this morning when I was riding back from EWEB on my bike a guy that I didn't recognize stopped me and said "Hey! I woke up singing your song in my head." He had been at the open mic that I played a couple of nights ago. Very nice guy, but then he suggested that I sell my songs to Jack Johnson for money. Hmmmm...I don't care a bit about doing that thank you very much. Anyways, Petuña and I went around town today handing out my new album "Bishop Called Me!!" to bars and coffee shops just in case they might like me to come play at their establishmento. We shall see. O yes, and Everett this morning suggested that Old Macdonald have a cheetah on his farm. Not bad.

Brek-T!

I am oh so happy to have plenty of time to cook these days. Unfortunately my days are number as school starts in a week. But in the meantime I can still make omelette with corn salsa a stuff like that. Last night I made some Black bean burgers (bbbs) which turned out magnificently, so said my friends. Aha! Neighbor update: The rains have slowly started back which have for the moment seemed to keep them shouters.

Guns, knives, hammers?

These are images that come to mind when I think I my lovely next doors apartment renters. They have been here as long as I have (circa one year). But recently they all have joined together and become an army of hootin' and hollerin', beer drinkin', beer pongin', pot smokin', beer chugin', (bad beer btw), frizbee throwin', californian talkin', flip flop wearin', baggy short sportin', sausage festin' annoying people inc.

Anyhow, those words come to mind because they seem to me like good silencing tools. I've asked them very politely to be quiet because it sounds like they are partyin' in my livin' room. Thankfully it has stopped momentarily. Perhaps they are taking a ralphing break.

But my passive agressive demeanor prevents me from doing any silencin'.

"You can go to the extreme on ANYTHANG. YOU can go to the EXTREME on ANYTHANG. But if you do as the Lord God intended, you needn't not worry." - Vernon, Florida

???Any suggestions as how to deal with the situation???

Petuña's pedals bite hard! But I deserved it...for I tried riding in the dark and with a cup of ice cream in one hand and the other hand on the handlebars. Her pedal's little prongs dug right into my leg. But it left a pretty cool scar. Actually! I know...I was attacked by a cougar while searching for lost treasure! That's much better.

I was right

I was right. Somethings terrible did happen to me...

I go to the Delta ticket office at the Atlanta airport and they tells me that "sorry" your ticket has been cancelled. No refund, bucko. You have to buy a new ticket. Poopers. $450 = bye bye. There were too many restrictions on the ticket and so if I missed one leg of my flight (BHM to ATL) then the whole thing would be cancelled. O well.

Driving through Salem, lost, I a photographed by a photo enforced traffic signal. I turn right at the red light but don't stop before turning. They slammed me with a $250 ticket that I can watch myself get online. Thanks, Big Brother!

Thinking that I already paid an oldie but a goodie hospital bill, my delinquent account was sent to collections. Yay!!!!!

But! I am a healthy boy and loving the beginnings of fall time. These things weren't so terrible after all. And hey, I made the mistakes. Gots to pay the piper.

In this picture I resemble a dork, the water was as almost as blue as my sweatshirt!

Wizard Island peaking around the bend

Picture of Mount Thielsen, not far from Diamond Lake, pumice desert in the foreground
Well I finally made it to Crater Lake. My friends and I camped at Diamond Lake not too far up the road from the national park. It rained a good bit the last night there which made for a soggy departure, but it was nice and cool up in them mountains. My $25 tent from Target that I bought a year ago is holding up quite nicely. This monday I get to go back to (in the words of Dan Orme) 'God's country.' This has been one of the best summers of my life. I feel as though it has been too good and that something terrible is bound to happen to me. Hmmmm....

Take 2

I've decided to revamp my blog. My blogging fingers have been quite slothful as of late. I suppose summer has its perks. Speaking of perky...i took some bad chicken bad to the Trader Joes here and they didn't even ask to see the chicken, or the receipt. I think one other perk of living here (the Northwest) is that it isn't as oppressive climate wise or religiously or geographically. But is that a perk? I've decided that no. I think i'm spoiled with the beauty of this place that it becomes less beautiful and less mysterious. Living in an oppressive environment makes you appreciate grandeur while it also makes you love your home. The Civil War, the heat, the racism, the rolling hills, the mosquitos, the pollution, the cars, the tradition, the stubborness, the strip malls, the heat...i love it. As I said, i feel spoiled out here. But you know...i'm enjoying it.

Dollars well spent

Sunday was one of the happier days of my life....I finally got my dragon t-shirt. I went to Gateway Mall in Springfield, voted one of the top 10 WORST malls in America. I must disagree. They have an excellent arcade with skee ball AND whole stand filled with t-shirts like this one. There are many with wolves, fairies, puppies, kitties, dragons, knights slashing dragons, dragons slashing knights, etc... Anyhow, I wear it with pride. And no matter how much you may think it is a scene from The Lord of the Rings...it is most certainly not! This is a complete foreign cave with a completely different wizard and a completely different dragon-being-thing. I hope you enjoy this picture as much as I do.

A new looksie

Clouds? What clouds?

I don't want to bore you with the weather but...It's a simply divine day in the Pacific Northwest. Clear as crystal and breezy with temps around 70. Lurvely. I feel like we've earned this weather. Even locals say that this spring has been awful wet and cold. This morning as I left my apartment for church I was greeted with the Eugene marathon running right smack in front of my place. There was a portapottie and water station right outside. I was lucky enough to see the person in first place run by. White lightning. I almost couldn't leave my street, but I made it in time. Next year for sure I will run this race. And what a day to run it. Sunshine can work wonders.

Swing yore partner!

Today I caught up on some sleepskie. A modest 5 hour nap this afternoon was well needed. I attended two cook-outs this weekend due to the nice weather. And to top it all off, I went to a square dance last night. And am sore now from it. I love square dancing. I forgot how fun it is. I remember having square dancing in Mrs. Mercer's P.E. class back in Westminster. Such good times. And it's still a blast! A bunch of sweaty, smiling, half-drunk, smelly folks got together at the Vet's Hall last night and cut loose. Now, unfortunately, it's back to workskie.

Momma and Me

My life is pretty monotonous these-a-days. But! It is all worth it because yesterday...One of my student's mom came in and listened and partook of music time. Afterwards she came up to me and said "Thank you so much for all you do. (Her child, we will call him E) can't say many things, but one word he knows how to say is "Jake." She continued..."He gets so excited when he knows you are coming to do music that day, and we talk about you at home a lot. E loves you."

Needless to say, I was on the verge of tears. I'll take weeks of rain and clouds and cold and grad school and, and, and, and...if I could hear that every once in a while.

The sun is here!!!! It's 59 outside and people are in the streets naked! Me too! (underneath meine clothes that is)

If my roomate doesn't close her door and stop talking on the phone in a loud obnoxious voice...(she just shut the door, THANK GOD!) and burst out in laughter that makes you want to pound your head against the wall I will have to eat all of her fancy bread or tell her to shut up!!!!!!!!!! Her laugh comes without warning. She talks and then point blank a verrrrry shrill 1 second-long laugh then back to her normal talking voice. O how it makes my blood boil. O to live alone...or with someone you love...or alone.

I think everything might be O.K. Just listen to some Beach House and then go swimming.

Mom and Ben paid me a visit! And then we paid a visit to the harbor seals!

Latest news...

-I shaved and got a new do too.
-Had an Argentine visitor for 5 days. Muy divertido y gracioso.
-I'm Spring Breakin'!
-Spring is in the air.
-I've never ate so much ice cream in one week I think.
-New roomate. Anarchist maybe?
-Happy that all the students are out of Eugene! What a lovely place!
-Petuña working like a charm.
-Gas is a rip these days.
-Can Spring Break be two weeks please?
-Someone smeared a cheeseburger on my windshield of my car last night in downtown Portland. Gerardo and I got a nice laugh.
-Runners up for new roomates: 19 year old mom with a screaming 1 year old, 44 year old selfproclaimed philosopher (unemployed) but talks like there is no tomorrow
-Spring term looking pretty hairy
-Gerardo pointed out that it was weird that people were hesitant here to greet him with a kiss, yet at the hotsprings everybody be naked! Hmmm...
-Momma's Coming!!!!!!!!!

Noticias

Eugene es el lugar mas raro en el mundo. The other day I was driving and saw a man doing kalestinics with a Mountain Dew in hand. He was squatting and standing at a very rapid rate. And then I was walking the other day and witnessed a man who was walking also but then decided to stop and then do a back somersault on the sidewalk and stand back up and continue walking. And to top it all off, there was a nude bike race in town the other night. I was out of town so I didn't get to witness it. Maybe next time.

Está terminando el semestre acá. Gracias a dios. Y la semana que viene, viene unos de mis amigos de Argentina. No Luisma, pero otro. Se llama Gerardo (Mojarrita). I hope to take him to the coast and check out a few breweries and fine seafood. Just to get out of the city will be a good time. O, yes, and I've recorded another song and would like opinions if anyone is so inclined. It's called "You Know." You can find it on my myspace if you are even more inclined.

Wanna bees

I went to cosmic pizza tonight...a very eugene place. There was a bluegrass band there that was trying real hard to be southern but just couldn't cut it. They were just too hippie. It was dissapointing. Granted, they had on all the bluegrass garb and bluegrass instruments, but they were just too darn hippie to pull it off. All their songs were pretending to like cornbread and black eyed peas, but they were really just expressing how much they liked pot. If you slapped a backpack on them and put them out on the street they would look more in character than what they were doing tonight. Straight from Portland/Seattle wanting to make a bluegrass band.

Music is both the object of most of my stress AND relaxation. It makes my bowels a'churn and be still. It makes my hair fall out and can make it curly too. Anyhow...i wrote a song recently that i'm really happy with. It made me forget about school for some hours at least. There are few things nowadays that can do that. Thank goodness there are still a few! Like pita chips for instance. You can listen to the song on my myspace if you like. :)

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This is what happens when you are couped up in a GTF office writing an overdue paper on Johann Nepomuk Hummel.

This is where you go when you are finished.

IT'S MARCH!!!!!!!!!! HALLELUJAH!

And another shameless product placement...Nancy's Organic Yogurt made in Eugene. Can I get an Amen!?? This stuff is so kind to your stomach and your mouth as the flavors come alive with every bite. Notice it says "billions of live cultures." I can feel live settling in my body and erecting civilizations to ward off disease. Happy civilizations they are...peaceful. Ahhhh.

To Valerian...and beyond!

I've begun to take Valerian root. It smells like cat throw up but makes you mellower than a mushroom. I'm excited to see what long term effects have in store!

Why? and How?

How in the heck can two people eat in such proximity?! I just passed a couple in the hall smacking away at some chinese with the oil-ridden lips just centimeters away from each. Chowin' down and smiling all the while. Bleck!

Improvisation

Tonight at Opera Workshop we had a visitor, David Darling. It was the most wonderful time! Improvisation for 2 hours! I have recently been in extreme need of this. Teachers telling me to play music the "traditional" way. That's bologna! We spend our lives with sets of imposing rules telling us how things should be. Improvisation makes everything beautiful. I should have the right to play Schubert how I want and how I think it beautiful no matter what Dr. X says. Although I do pay him to tell me what to do. Or do I? Anyhow...the improv session tonight was so freeing. You can really see right into someone when you watch or hear them improvise. It's like they rip their soul out and set it on fire with methane...I mean, BUTANE right in front of your eyes. Some people clammed up when they were asked to solo or to give it a try but others shined like crazy. It made my day instantly better at the get go when we began chant like tribal primates...yes monkeys. It's like we dug realllly deep down and everyone in the room connected and opened up in such a natural way. "Natural" is the key word i think. Then to top it all off a fine tuna fish sandwich and bowl of raisin bran. MMMMmmm good.

And another thing! It makes me sad when I walk around the school of music and hear the same ten pieces being studied. Why!?!?!? I'm determined to program such an avant garde work that less than 10 people in the school have actually listened to before.
Hmpf!

P.S. I would really like a sunburn

One of the teachers today took away Caleb's (a preschooler) blanket today right as I was beginning music time. Another teacher had told this teacher to take it away because it would prevent Caleb from participating. Now just a few weeks ago Caleb was in the Toddler room. I think they are trying to break his blanky habit and make him mature. Caleb started to cry real loud and hard even while we were singing. He kept on until they tried to give him a type of toy or something to chew on. I can't remember. But he wasn't having it. He eventually stopped and joined in. It was just really awkward when everyone was singing and "having a good time" while Caleb was in utter torment. There was this "just turn your head" kind of smell in the air. Not because anyone has pooped in his/her pants, though. Life goes on. I suppose that he will have to give up his blanky sooner or later. But what if he had his blanky and "ate it too?" I betcha that he would have eventually dropped it like it was hot and joined in anyhow. But my! the children were all sooooo attentive and engaged today. In keeping with the motto of this blog I encourage everyone to put on some Sam Cooke (like the kindergarteners and I did) and just slouch in your chair and sway. About Caleb, though, I couldn't help but think if the other kids were thinking what I was - "Shouldn't we do something about the poor guy?" Answer: "He's OK"

I hate to say this but...

I'm actually enjoying school right now. And piano. And the new strength that my teeth and gums now have. I feel like I could bite through steel!

It appears that I will be here (Eugene) for at least another 2 years to finish up a Music Ed and Collaborative Piano degrees. Anyone want to fund my last year?

I've taken up a new hobby: flossing. Ever since my sis-in-law's aunt or mom or someone very kind gave me some nice floss I've been a-using. Who knew that your gums would stop bleeding eventually? Sad it is. I'm making progress it seems on the search for a roomie. It's tough discerning a thief from a nice person. Someone asked me today why I only play "girly" pieces for the piano. I think this guy is out of line. Who says that Debussy Preludes and Bach are girly? And the freaking Kreutzer Sonata! Gimme a brizzeak. I got a Sheryl Crow CD at the ly-berry yesterday!

Admiral Ackbar says...

"It's a twap!!!!"

Did I mention that I love the children?

Yesterday, in honor of Valentine's Day, the preschoolers and kindergarten and I sang "Skidamarink." Because of the line..."I love you!" The kindergarten thought it was funny that I pointed to them and said "I love you!" And one kid...decided to open up his jacket to where he was bare breasted every time we sang "I love you!" He continued to flash the class with his bare chest. I had to look away to keep from laughing. And this kid's neighbor started making farting noises when I asked them to "Put your lips together and blow" (in an effort to show them how to whistle). Smart kid.

Now i'm in sunny (yes, sunny) Lake Oswego with David Stockamp. Celia had to go to a conference of sorts. But there is talk of cleaning gutters. I'm pretty excited, although David goes about things in a Mr. Ratti fashion. Very methodical and VERY safe. Boring! O well, at least we'll be outside.

I think my heart rate has slowed down a few ticks after having to learn 20 not-easy songs for three singers whom i accompanied in a concert last Sunday. That was a poorly constructed sentence. Anyhow, we traveled with our fearless Opera director to Lakeview, Oregon. About 14 miles north of California and in the center of the state of Oregon. Population: less than 3000. A paradise really. I could easily see myself living there in about ten years or so. We played the concert (which i was extremely stressed about) at the presbyterian church there in town. About 50 people showed up. (a pretty big percentage considering the size of the town). Then in the morning after we had day-old pizza and coors light at a Arts-Council person's house, we went to the local high school/middle school and did a couple of programs there. It was refreshing to get out and see some beautiful country. Around 10 feet! of snow on the side of the roads on the way there. And let me tell you, Eastern Oregon is desolate! Beautifullness. Pretty backwoods hick country, but i really love it. There was about 4-5 feet of snow on the ground in lakeview. More than I have ever seen. Luckily the blizzard was the week before we got there, not the week of. So I survived the concert and this past week. Not sure how, but i tend to freak out anyhow over not so big thangs.

I'm still looking for a roomie for spring term. Hmpf!

Singers, stress, farting to myself, acid reflux, more acid reflux, recording bad music, more stress, traveling to Lakeview, OR tomorrow, back issues, balding, molasses chews, looooong bike rides down the Willamette, french toast, sweet sleep, going to bed early, sunshine!, Petuña!....This is what gradschool has brought me to this weekend. Illustrious, I know.

More molasses chews, please.

The children at the EWEB CDC don't know this yet, but i am slowing turning them into music buffs.

They will soon know the words to a handful of good ol' American folk songs and have been introduced to Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach by next week! Not to mention Nick Cave, The Beach Boys, and Dizzy Gillespie. The Name Game, however, makes them blush and become a tad bit embarrassed. Hmmm...we got to finish up naming the rest of the class, though. They'll make it. The Kindergarten even now know what "Theme and Variations" are. Woof!

Bike thieves, Nuclear weapons, and life beyond us

I've been thinking lately about life outside of mother earth and nuclear warfare.
Both of which really blow my mind (no pun intended). There MUST be other life forms on other planets that are probably blogging about us and wondering the same thing. Maybe they look just like us. Maybe we all could get along? If only i had a spare 29403948 million light years to spare, i would go on a space voyage to search out other galaxies. Our galaxy is so huge and yet there are probably millions, nay billions, more out there.

And nuclear weapons! We could blow ourselves up at any minute. Why hasn't this already happened? It puzzles me that an accident hasn't occured already somewhere in a missle silo underground and that we aren't already toast. And just that we have the capability to blow ourselves up many-a-time is baffling. It seems like everyone has a nuclear weapon! These aren't cap guns people!

Apart from that, I still have a pesky cold that lingers and the temperature outside is not getting any warmer. But never fear because my Petuña will save me from long cold walks. She turns them into short extremely cold bike rides. Someone tried to cut my bike lock tonight when I was eating some pizza. Jerks! But they didn't snatch my sweet Petuña, no sir. She remains in tact and hasn't had a flat tire for weeks!!!

"High Tide!"




bluepdtie

Singers vs. Kids

I want to work with little kids in a school teaching music.
Now, i work with singers in a school accompanying them.

Here's the challenge...What's the difference between singers and little kids?!?

Kids are more mature. (For the most part)

All good things come to an end

Amazingly d-lish