Food for Thought

Best be...

2009-04-11T11:28:00.003-04:00

I need to find some motivation. Not for me, for my committee. I have a sinking feeling that their lack of hustle at the end of the semester is going to cost me money in the form of registering for classes in the summer to have an August graduation. Unacceptable.

This sitting around waiting for changes to make on the document is more frustrating than I thought it would be. That, along with no idea where I'll be or how I'll make money in 4 months is adding to the general malaise. I think this is why I'm having a harder time enjoying being by myself right now. My brain doesn't want to be alone with itself- it thinks too much.

On another note, 5k training is going well. I'm running in 2 weeks, and I think I'll be able to run the whole thing. Mel has been a great training partner, and we're motivating each other pretty well. I'm hoping to keep running after the 5k, I kind of like it... when my body isn't screaming at me.

Happy New Year!

2009-03-15T22:32:00.003-04:00

Yeah, so what? It's March. First post of the year, better late than never. Maybe not. It's been a busy couple of months. Quick review-

January: Gigs, went to Nashville to record with Ben Folds, got my hopes up about a couple of things, eventually let down.

February, worked on the dissertation (a lot), opened for Ben Folds in Atlanta, gigs, had my apartment broken into and my tv stolen.

March (so far) sent 3/4 of my dissertation to my committee chair, got snowed in my apartment with no power, went on a cruise to the Bahamas, gigs.

So far this year, I've learned some more things about myself:

. I am maybe a little too optimistic about things. I wasn't that upset about the tv being stolen. I'm not nearly worried enough about employment for next year. I think stuff happens for a reason, and maybe it's not what is best for me- and I'm ok with that.

. I get my hopes up too easily (goes with that whole optimistic thing). But, maybe since I don't get too upset when things don't work out for me, it's not that bad. It's like the best parts of the roller-coaster but not too scary.

. I love performing and recording. And it apparently doesn't matter if it's singing or playing the trumpet.

. Someone in transition who hits it off with someone in transition is a sad thing. Uncertainty about the next 6 months is something I'm used to by now, but something I'll never like, especially when trying to decide to allow emotions to be a part of it.

. I have some of the best friends in the world. With everything that has happened in my life over the past 5 years, they all have been there at just the right time. To help celebrate the good, and to comfort me in the bad- even if it was just by hanging out. Even as an only child, I've never felt alone.

BORING!

Here's a picture of a monk getting kicked in the nuts. Why? why not? Consider it my New Year's gift to you.

Signs, Signs, everywhere

2008-12-21T21:25:00.003-05:00

a moo moo. Oh, wait two songs there. So, over the last couple of days I've seen some great signs. The first was at the church where I was playing a Christmas cantata in Winder, GA. It is a fairly large church, with several buildings to do several church things at the same time. In the hall where they have the contemporary service, there is a stage where the rock band "DJ Jazzy Jesus and the Fresh Prince of Peace" (not actual name) is set up. At the front of the stage is a large sign that says, "no playing on stage." Is this an indication that DJJJ&FPP are Milli Vanilli'ng their Michael W. Smith charts? Or is it from the old folks in the actual church building requesting a respite on bass drum during the service? In any case, I found it to be amusing. I was ready to take a picture with the phone, but the people setting up for said contemporary service must have seen my delight, and promptly moved the sign backstage- apparently to warn the oncoming musicians that their kind are not wanted.

The other sign of interest I hope others will be able to more easily confirm. On my way home from the church last night, I stopped at McDonalds. More accurately, I went to the drive-"thru" (apparently three extra letters would have broken the bank). I ordered at the "wall of fattening and mystic delights" and "please drive to the first window." This is where I notice it. A little sticker on the window that says (in normal human letters) "braille and picture menus available."
Seriously? Please explain this scenario to me. You've somehow made your blind self to the drive-"thru" window at McDonalds. You've then somehow managed to rub your hand on a piece of window and felt a sticker. Do you ask the lady at the window what that sticker says? Let's say someone drives you to the McDonalds. Wouldn't that same person be able to read you the menu options? Don't you have to be able to read to drive (going back to the picture menu). So, do me a favor, next time you're at a McDonalds, check the drive-"thru" window for a sticker. You'll be glad you did.

Oh, and Merry Christmas to you fellow Christians out there. Happy Hanukkah to the Jews, Happy Kwanzaa to you Africans, and Happy Ramadan to those of you who didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, and prefer the comforts that only your particular hotel can provide.

The Pre-Thanksgiving Home Stretch.

2008-11-16T10:33:00.005-05:00

Not as contrived as the the 7th inning stretch, and without the traditional playing of "take me out for some turkey."

My unprecedented (for me at least) gigging schedule over the past six months has been slightly exhausting. I've been running back and forth from Atlanta about twice a week, usually returning to Athens well after midnight. This, accompanied by trips to Milledge-vegas once a week, my high school teaching, and occasional bursts of energy on my dissertation have made me feel like a social outcast at times. I have been able to relax at home and hang out with close friends, but practically never on the weekends. This is good because the money is fantastic. This is bad because after May, I'd better be in the (quotation-optional) "real world," putting several hours in every day working and hopefully still gigging on the weekends.

I may be one of the few people who are enjoying the 12:30 Georgia games, for the simple fact I can watch the whole thing before having to get in the car. 3:30 games usually have me missing the last bit of the 4th quarter (not so much an issue with Florida), and the 8pm kickoffs were outright no-shows by me.

Anyhow, back to the regularly titled blog. Things have gone pretty well for me over the past week, and the last week here before I go home for Thanksgiving looks to be fairly innocuous. I passed my prospectus presentation on Friday, putting me closer to finishing this bloody degree. Brad returned from basic training, and we were able to hang out a little on Friday night. He's off to the Armed Forces School of Music now, but we'll hopefully get to spend some time together around Christmas. The musical I've been playing the last two weekends is wrapping up today, after performances last Friday and Sunday, as well as this Friday and Sunday. Played the usual salsa gig last night, and got to sleep a little after 3am. This week should be fairly normal, but I'm hoping to get about 4 or 5 job application packets together before the weekend. Then Saturday, it's off to the ATL for the salsa gig, Sunday morning to the airport to go home for an entire week. I can feel my chops relaxing now...

The perfect day, almost.

2008-11-11T20:05:00.003-05:00

Today was a great day. I sit here at the computer, 8:05pm on a Tuesday listening to a brand new CD I bought about 45 minutes ago. James Taylor's latest release, Covers. JT always puts me in a good mood, and today I started out that way. Got a haircut this morning, and had some fantastic conversation with my barber, who is a 40 year old straight man working in a salon. He's a rock guitarist by night, originally from the North, who lived in Tucson for a while. We always have plenty to talk about. Plus, he has Saab envy- so there's always that to discuss.

Then, I picked up a good friend of mine- becoming a better friend every day as a matter of fact, and headed up to Tallulah Falls for some hiking. I'm smiling now, feeling a little mix of windburn and sunburn from driving up there with the top down, remembering being stupid and laughing for the better part of the hour and a half drive. The weather was fantastic, maybe a couple degrees cool of perfect. We hiked all over the gorge, and then drove up to Tiger to visit Tiger Mountain Vineyards, a North Georgia stop I try to make every time I'm up that way. A full wine tasting session and a couple purchases later, we were on our way back to Athens.

Delicious dinner at On the Border, followed by coffee at the *bucks- where I picked up the CD I'm listening to now.

The only downside to the day was that my friend has an acquaintance who tried to kill himself this morning. This made for some rather distracted conversations and some psychological discussion this evening. It appears that everyone will be fine, but I never had anything like this happen to someone I know. It made me think of how precious life is, and how much I love it. I can't imagine a situation or even a 9-11 style series of events that would make me want to end it all. There's always an upside. If I wasn't alive, today would still have been an almost perfect day; but not for me. I appreciate my friends and my opportunities and experiences so much on a day like today. I frankly can't stop smiling.

In The Event of a Tie:

2008-11-04T12:21:00.003-05:00

Florida will be blown off of the map. I realized something this week. Florida, with it's awful, awful, football teams (exception going to the U), is also to blame for messing up elections. Remember the hanging chads? Ugh, disgusting. I suggest moving Disney World to Valdosta, Miami to the Florida keys and sinking the rest of the place.

In celebration of erection/election day, we need a drink of the day. I suggest a drink I invented in my mind this morning:

The Bahama Obamama:

It's a slight tweak of the original.
1 unit of Sailor Jerry rum
1 unit of Coconut rum
equal parts pineapple juice and orange carbonated drink (natural flavor like fresca or orangina)
dash of grenadine.

I haven't made one yet, but I'm sure it's good. Work the blend like the candidates work the polls- to your liking. Gotta stop at the store later and get some ingredients. I suggest being patriotic and drinking one. I wasn't able to come up with a kitchy name for a McCain drink. Maybe something involving Arizona ice tea, or Maverick, something like that. If he wins, I'll invent something.

I'm in no way political, by the way. So, go democracy.

Man, I hate those guys

2008-11-02T10:20:00.002-05:00

I wish daylight savings had started at 7pm yesterday instead of 2 this morning. I also wish we turned the clock back 4 hours instead of one so we had another try on that one. Now we can focus on our real title run in 09- as long as all our Juniors stay.

Had gigs all weekend again. I start playing a musical run in Watkinsville this week. And, I'm battling a bit of a cold. Time to drug up, and hope the ears and throat stay out of this.

Gators, Gators, how'd you like....

2008-10-28T17:43:00.004-04:00

How awesome would it be to get the ball first on Saturday and run seven consecutive plays, have Moreno score a TD, and then have the team run out on the field again? That would "Groundhog Day" the crap out of Fl*$##@. Also, the band needs to learn the Pennsylvania Polka.

Gaytors wear jean shorts. That is all.

Ouch,

2008-10-26T19:33:00.002-04:00

Well, a half unexpected kick to the soul today. Maybe I should stop thinking that I see people places, it appears to be an omen. We'll see how this plays out in my brain over the next few weeks. And, I thought I was just about through this.

In other news, Go Dawgs...

Welcome to fall

2008-10-23T14:31:00.003-04:00

Wow, the last couple days have been a rapid and somewhat welcome transition to fall. This is always a strange time of year for me, as some of my best and worst memories are from the fall. I don't seem to have amazingly bad memories from any summer. The other three seasons all have moments that I distinctly remember as bad. I've lost grandparents in the fall, winter, and spring. I've had some of the most spontaneous and fun times on crisp October and November days. I've had some fantastic relationships start and others end in the months that are upon us. I think that's partly why the first days of fall (whenever they may be) are very bittersweet. Sure, Thanksgiving and Christmas are soon upon us. But, it's also seven months until the summer again. With every layer of clothing added, it seems that I get more introspective. Maybe it's just easier to ignore your brain when you are on the beach or making plans for vacations, relaxing and not worrying. Summer is a plateau of emotion.
For many, New Year's is a time for reflection and resolutions. I'm usually just playing a gig. So, for me, autumn is the time my brain shifts inward for a couple days. The days are shorter, but the nights are longer. Sometimes that's a good thing.

yeah, yeah.

2008-09-24T01:09:00.002-04:00

Here I go again (on my own).....

All Whitesnake jokes aside, I have been absent from the land of the blog (not to be confused with The Land of the Lost- do you remember that show? I sure do.).

Anywho, it's been a while. So what? It's not like there are more than about 5 people who read this thing anyhow. Plus, I've been busy. Doing what, I'm not sure. Oh right, gigs. I think I need a second home, or girlfriend, who lives in Atlanta. This would make the 2 gig weekend less of a pain as far as commuting goes. Plus, the girlfriend thing would be a nice addition to the whole zen of me. To quote one of my favorite movies, "Perhaps I will need two wives, " although, I'm not big on the raising rabbits thing.

Georgia keeps winning football games. This is a good thing. Because, when Mr. Bigglesworth gets upset, people die! Let's keep the ball rolling, so to speak, this weekend.

In other news, I'm rocking the latest bit of technology I could afford and get my hands on. No, it's not the Large Hadron Collider (or as I like to call it, the "large hard-on collider"). It is, in fact, the iPhone. What a marvel of hand-held technology. I haven't had this much fun with one hand in public since, well, let's skip that part. (I have not participated in this activity, but it is very funny that an entire website- several actually- are designated to it). Maybe it's something that will make the Atlanta commute more bearable.... (just kidding mom).

So, in conclusion- sorry about no blogs, been busy gigging, football watching, driving (with both hands on the wheel), and iPhoning.

Also, the dissertation is well underway. The tunnel is getting fairly bright, I must say.

Peace be with you, and go Dawgs.

Short Blog Today.

2008-08-30T00:09:00.002-04:00

GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

that is all.

Where did it go?

2008-08-11T18:19:00.003-04:00

Wow, now that was a fast summer. The cruise was epic. One of the best trips I've been on- especially for the price. I taught a band camp last week, which was fun (considering it was a band camp). I think I'm going to make a conscious effort to see the band in October or something. I've taught there the last three years, but have never seen a finished product. Two wonderful friends of mine have recently found cars- good news for them and it cuts down on my Hoke Colburn role-playing. My love-hate relationship with my beautiful Swede continues. Saturday night, on the way back from a salsa gig in ATL, one of the belts decided to snap and take a pulley with it. So, my 1:45 am incident got me home about 3:30. Always fun. The pulley is ordered, and the car should be up and running in a day or two.

It had better, because I'm off to the mountains on Sunday for a giggidy-goo. I'm going to get paid quite a bit to play a musical, so that should be fun.

Where you at?

2008-07-12T01:06:00.005-04:00

Well, it seems I post on a quasi-monthly basis now. Sorry about that. I wish I was still in the cheery "make fun of stuff/rant" phase of my blogging career. It's a down time I suppose. Good thing is, I don't get amusingly angry about stupid stuff right now. Bad thing is, I'm pretty much in a funk. Not a George Clinton/James Brown funk, but a stuck in the bottom of a pit with just a hint of ambient light entering funk. It appears that the journey that my best friend needed to take is a lot longer than I thought. In fact, that journey may lead her to never return. I'm not taking that as well as I should. I can't explain why, but it just feels like this shouldn't have ever happened, or that I should have been able to go with her. To accompany this, I'm constantly reminded of our journey together, still in this town, seeing the same people. It doesn't help that most everyone is out of here this summer, leaving me with plenty of time to do battle with my mind, a fight I constantly lose. I still hope that she finds what she is looking for, and is forever happy, with or without me. She remains one of the most wonderful people I have ever been around. To add to this cheery montage, my closest friend over the past four years will be leaving in September to enter the armed services. I'm not worried about him- there aren't any bombs in the band, he'll be in Virginia, and he's non-deployable. But, every time we get together in these last few weeks will be one time closer to never having those days again. I hope nobody else splits in another six months. I'll need to add Charles Barkley to "my five."
My "post-trip home" summer has gone fairly well, despite the emotional baggage. Didn't get the job I was a finalist for in Chattanooga, but I learned a ton about interviewing and the process of charming a committee. I think as soon as my document is finished, I'll find a job fairly quickly.
The other big and pretty much only good news is that I'll be on a ship in the middle of the Caribbean in a week. A week at sea might be just the ticket to un-funk. I'll make my way back to center, it's just been a wild ride down. When you were as far to the happy side as I was in December, the pendulum has a lot of distance to cover in the opposite direction...

It's been awhile

2008-06-06T23:03:00.006-04:00

So, it's been a while since the last one of these ditties. Overall, not a bad stretch of time. I'm currently in Delaware.
Visiting the parents is always great. Delicious food (made by mom or some regional delicacies), do some touristy stuff, lay around on the couch. It's fantastic. I got the car titled and registered, and enjoyed the drive up here. I didn't make the finals of the Marine Band audition, but I had a good time.I stopped in DC for two nights, played the audition and visited with a friend from UGA who is living there. On the way to Wilmington, I stopped in Maryland (who has the coolest state flag in the country) and had dinner with a friend from UGA who is visiting her parents for a while. Great dinner of crabcakes and fantastic dinner conversation.

So, I'm here til Tuesday, when I go to Virginia to hang out with my favorite Australian (you were expecting Paul Hogan or Greg Norman?) for a few days before I head back to A-town. Looking forward to that part of the trip too. Nothing like Athens in the summer. Sure it's hot, but you can get to anywhere in town in under 15 minutes. Probably an update when I'm back in the South.

L8R

I didn't write this, obviously.

2008-05-15T10:39:00.002-04:00

But I just had to share. I think this is pretty fantastic, and to all the females out there, enjoy your laugh. I made the text red for no "official" reason, other than to designate a quotation. Or something.

This is an actual letter from an Austin woman sent to American company Proctor and Gamble regarding their feminine products. She really gets rolling after the first paragraph. It's PC Magazine's 2007 editors' choice for best webmail-award-winning letter.

Dear Mr. Thatcher,

I have been a loyal user of your 'Always' maxi pads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core or Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts. But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants.

Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? Ever suffered from the curse'? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my time of the month is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call 'an inbred hillbilly with knife skills.' Isn't the human body amazing?

As Brand Manager in the Feminine-Hygiene Division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customer's monthly visits from 'Aunt Flo'. Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behavior. You surely realize it's a tough time for most women. In fact, only last week, my friend Jennifer fought the violent urge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grill just because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written by drunken chimps. Crazy!

The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants... Which brings me to the reason for my letter. Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: 'Have a Happy Period.'

Are you f------ kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness - actual smiling, laughing happiness, is possible during a menstrual period? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James? FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freak, there will never be anything 'happy' about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.

For the love of God, pull your head out, man! If you have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like 'Put down the Hammer' or 'Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong', or are you just picking on us?

Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending bulls***. And that's a promise I will keep.
Always. . .

Best,
Wendi Aarons
Austin , TX

Another Year Older....

2008-05-10T11:04:00.003-04:00

and deeper in debt. The song goes something like that.

So, yeah. Long time, no post. Well, it's been a busy month, a scary month, a relatively ok month, and at times a rather sad month. I'm referring to the month since I've posted, not necessarily April 1-30. Isn't it funny how we get so used to the 0 or the 1 as the start of something? I mean, sure, calenders and time are set up that way. So are speedometers and anything else with counting. But, most people are uncomfortable beginning something on 15 or 27. Most schools do this. In fact August 9 or something will mark the "start" of the 08-09 school year. A few thousand fellow Athenians are ending their college careers today; the 10th of something, or perhaps they are starting their professional careers. Which brings me to my birthday, which was Thursday (the 8th- for those of you keeping score). In 1978, on the 8th of a month, I started my career as a non-umbilically attached individual. 30 years. A lot of people ask you how it feels to be thirty. Most of those people are under thirty, most of those people can also bite me. Actually, 30 feels no different than 29 & 364/365th, or for that matter, 27 or 28. It's other's perceptions about "zero" years that cause a dramatic difference? Nothing spectacular happened on Thursday. I still struggle with the same problems I've had for the last five months (since we're going with years), the last 2 years, etc. I still have amazing friends and family who support me, encourage me, and put up with me. Society doesn't give me the right to do anything special now that I'm 30, unlike 16, 18, 21, or 25 (rent a car baby!). The next real big birthday after 25 is 65, unless you plan on running for president. )And most of the people who read this blog probably stand a snowball's chance in hell in ever getting elected, because they're about as poor as me.)

Anyhow, here's to 30. May it be better than 29, but not amazingly so. I can't have the best one this early in my career. I hope to peak somewhere in the mid 70s- then begin the downward spiral into my 120s. Stay young out there, I'm trying my best to do the same.

Road Trip

2008-04-05T18:04:00.003-04:00

I think I found a fun little road trip for early May.
That's right folks. Cooterfest. It's got something to do with turtles, or "cooters" which are, according to these cookey folks, the same thing.That's right again, a little cooter never hurt anybody. I beg to differ.

So, who's up for a road trip?

Anyone want to invest?

2008-03-26T18:54:00.002-04:00

Came up with a great idea for a bakery the other day. Dill Dough Bakery.

Some marketing campaign ideas:

Never face your inlaws without some fresh Dill Dough.
Dill Dough, a soccer mom's best friend.
Dill Dough, for that certain hunger.
You can never have enough Dill Dough.
Dill Dough, better than sex!

I shouldn't be sharing these fantastic ideas with you without having you sign something, but what the heck. Just give me 20%.

Next week, my sales pitch for Cracker-Ass Crackers. Better than Triscuits.

The Illiad’s got nothing on me.

2008-03-15T23:12:00.002-04:00

142,000 miles. Not a bad run for a car. No, the Saturn is not dead, it actually drives quite well. It’s just that over the last three years, the repair bills have started to add up. I deemed it was time to find a replacement for the car that moved me from New Jersey to Arizona. From Arizona to Miami, and Miami to Georgia. It’s been with me through two Master’s degrees and most of a doctorate. But, I can still sell it and make some money. If anything else goes wrong with it, I’ll be lucky to get 500 bucks!

So, the casual search for a new ride began about a month ago. A few days into the search, a nice find. A 1996 Saab convertible with only 72,000 miles. A test drive was scheduled. The test drive went well. I went online and found all the info I could about the car, things to look for, things to check when I drove it. The car passed with flying colors. We agreed on a very fair price. I waited for my money to arrive from the bank. And waited. And waited. Two weeks and 5 days after my loan request was placed, I had my money. Unfortunately, this gave me the car on Monday of spring break, not the previous Wednesday, as I’d originally hoped. It drove wonderfully on the way back from Loganville. I had the top down, the wind blowing through the cabin playfully. THIS is what driving should be. Not closed in an air conditioned egg with automatic transmission and limo steering, but in an open car with a driver in total control of speed, gears, and a tight feel of the road. I was to leave Tuesday morning to drive to Delaware to register and title the car.

Monday afternoon, Cale and I headed to Walmart to purchase some items. Leaving Wallyworld, the clutch cable of my car broke. Not an unusual thing, especially considering that this car had been driven 20 miles a day for the last three years on the highway. I’d already driven it 50 miles, on a mix of back roads and traffic. Not an expensive repair, but a delay in my trip.

Thursday morning, I departed Athens at 2:30am. After leaving the lights of town, I engaged the Black Panel feature of my car, eliminating all lights on the dash except for the speedometer. My night vision was intact, I was appreciating the bright headlights, and enjoying the feel of this car on the open highway. As the sun rose, I thought about breakfast. I stopped in Durham, NC for some breakfast at the quintessential traveler’s stop: cracker barrel. Five and a half hours of driving, and this car was great. I wasn’t tired physically, strange for a long trip with no breaks. After breakfast, I found my way back to I-85. On the way, I stalled at a stop light. Not surprising, considering that this was my first time driving stick in about seven years (save for about an hour two days previously- and the test drive two weeks ago). It felt like the stick slipped out of first gear, but maybe it was my imagination.

About 50 miles down the road, I had a bit of a problem. 5th gear no longer existed. In fact, the car would not hold any gear whatsoever. I was rapidly decelerating, from 75mph to 0 on a major interstate highway. Fortunately, I was about 200 yards from an exit ramp. The front tires seemed to lock, and there was a burning smell as I frantically tried to engage the appropriate gear as my speed dictated. I shuddered to a stop after successfully gliding the car into the grass embankment off of the exit ramp. At least AAA would be able to find me.

About an hour later, the tow truck arrived. The problem with a locked front tire is that it won’t roll. Even when the car is in neutral, and even when it needs to roll up an incline pulled by a chain onto the back of a flat bed tow truck. 25 minutes and a bottle of WD40 later, my car was atop the truck. In the meantime, my dad had searched the internet for anyone who may know what a Saab is. Swedish Imports! Located in Durham. Hey, I was just there! A 40 mile tow south later, my car arrived at the location where the surgery would happen. 20 minutes of trying to get my car off of the tow truck (remember the locked wheel?) some wooden boards and a cinder block under the rear tires and some severe flat bed shaking, my car was on terra firma again.

By this point, it’s about noon, so the mechanics were off to lunch. I decided to do the same. About 1:30 I got the bad news. Transmission: dead. There was a small leak (undetected by the previous owner, my mechanic, or myself) in the transmission, causing the very important transmission oil to go away. Evidently, the 20 mile drives this car had been doing didn’t sustain engine temperature high enough to cause problems. 5 ½ hours of high speed driving on a relatively dry transmission will cause problems. Major expensive problems. Motel room getting, parent calling, sick feeling in the stomach problems. Did I make one of the biggest mistakes of my life?

I had to ask the mechanic (the only Swedish specialty mechanics in about a 400 mile radius- thankfully), was this something I could have known about? Was this something a Saab specialist would have seen before purchase? Encouragingly, he said “no.” OK, maybe I wasn’t duped into buying this car. I’m a fairly intelligent person, who does research, asks opinion, joins online forums, and explores all options before making big decisions. It appears to be a very expensive and painful “one of those things.”

It’s currently Thursday night at 9:30pm. I’m in my room at a red roof inn in Durham. I walked here from the mechanic. My parents will be here tomorrow, mostly because I haven’t seen them since Thanksgiving and this was to be a week for time together. Oh, and they’re bringing the title to the Saturn.

The old transmission is out of the car, the new one will go in tomorrow when it arrives by airplane. Born from jets, they say. Or, in this case, reborn. To be continued later. I’m supposed to have the car Friday afternoon- I’ll return to Athens Saturday evening. If the car makes it. What a week. I was going to name the car something Swedish like Sven or Helga, but I think this car needs a name fitting of the ordeal involved in purchasing it and making it ready to be road worthy. Something like Job.

Back in Athens. Car ran admirably in the monsoon. New Transmission, new gear box, new clutch, new front brake pads, new clutch cable. Dollar menu for the next 2 weeks. Come on pay day.

I had no idea

2008-03-01T09:26:00.004-05:00

that Leap Year was a Mexican holiday. I'm not certain that it actually is, but I have pretty good proof at this point. Last night, Cale and I decided that we were going to get Mexican food. Not only that, but we were going to try the new Agua Linda location on Timothy. So, we hopped in the car and left the house. This was at 7:00. We arrive at the aforementioned eatery, and notice that the parking lot is completely filled. "Maybe some of these people are here for the pizza place," we postulated. Not so. In fact there were about 4 people in the pizza place, and our chosen destination had a Russian bread line formed out the door. OK, no problem. Back to the car. Cale suggests "on the border," which is conveniently located across the street, on the corner. (Should have renamed it.) We get across the street, after sitting at one of the worst lights in town, and find a similar Lenin-esque setting.

I've been hungry since about 5:30 and am starting to get a little upset at this point. Anyhow, we venture off in search of our food. I suggest the other Agua Linda (on Prince) and make a ballsy decision to venture off in the general direction of where we need to be. Sure enough, we arrive there about 15 minutes later. It would have been 10 minutes, but we ended up behind a gentleman who preferred to drive 20 in a 35 and 22 in a 45. The road rage began to set in at this point, as this guy obviously already had dinner 4 hours ago and was looking to take a little nap behind the wheel. Meanwhile, I've got a starving roommate and myself back here, who are getting a little testy with this guy's lack of accelerator position knowledge.

So, we arrive at the old "AL" location to find what can only be described as a "fiesta." Cars everywhere, people out on the deck eating and drinking, line out the door. (this is getting a little ridiculous.) LA PARILLA! It's right down the street! There can't possibly be four Mexican places with 2 hour waits on a friday at 8pm in Athens! Yes. There can.

At this point, I'm ready to call it a night, get some taco hell and a shotgun. But Cale suggests Mexicali, since it's on the way home anyhow. So, we hop on the loop, now that we are as geographically far away from our place as we can be and still be in what is considered Athens. We arrive at Mexicali at about 8:30 and have a five minute wait for a table.

Best damn cheese quesadilla I ever had.

Happy Valentine's Day to me

2008-02-15T12:38:00.004-05:00

I had another surreal musical experience last night. Every couple of years since undergrad, I've had an opportunity to play with a musician who has been able to express themselves in a way that transcends music and kind of makes its way into a spiritual moment. This ranks right up there with the rest. Dave Brubeck has a jazz Yoda presence to him, not just because of his age (87) and stature. I had a chance to talk to him briefly on several occasions this week, and he is one of the most knowledgeable, kindest, generous musicians I have ever encountered. The rest of his quartet were equally amazing. There's just something cool about playing music with a living legend. It never gets old.

Ignore the leg. It's not mine. For those non-performers out there, this is what an audience looks like when you're on stage.

Inventions

2008-02-06T22:52:00.000-05:00

I was on my weekly 150 mile round-trip to Milledgeville yesterday, and I got to thinking about probably the greatest invention on 90% of cars that nobody seems to know is there.

That, my friends, is the cruise control.

With little more than some simple hand-eye coordination, you can make your car travel at the exact speed you desire. I know, I didn't believe it at first either. Want to go 62 in a 55? I know I do. It makes my 90 minute trip into about an 80 minute trip, and I can stop in Madison to get a diet coke and a snickers bar. No problem. Hit the gas, wait for the speed to reach 62 (your time may vary), then hit the button. Missed it, or got a little antsy and set it too soon? No problem, just hit the up or down buttons next to your cruise to move your speed up or down by about 2mph a click.

Now I know some of you may have a 1957 Chrysler Imperial. (The 58 came with cruise) You are off the hook. But the rest of you who have purchased a car worth more than 8000 bucks since the time Ralph Teetor (a blind guy) was smart enough to invent this thing, no excuse! I get so tired of being on a two-lane road and having some numbnuts fly up behind me (obviously traveling much faster than my desired 62) and tailgate me to the nearest dotted line. Then, they pass me, usually with a look of disdain, (not sure if it's the fact that I have the audacity to only go 7 over the speed limit, or they're not quite sure where or what a Delaware is) and proceed to get about 100 yards ahead of me. That's when they: a. get a phone call, b. decide to eat a big mac, c. pick an orifice. This causes them to now travel at about 50mph, making the distance between us rather small, rather quickly. I then have to disengage my cruise (not hard, tap the break) and proceed to wait for the talking, eating, picking to conclude. Often times, the driver then realizes that they were going 80 in a 55 and decides to play it safe for the next 20 minutes and go 54.5.

Then there are the ones who go 80 until there's a curve in the road. They slam on the breaks and go 45 around the corners. I guaran-damn-tee that 129/441 does not contain any switchbacks between Athens and the ville. Just go 70 and nobody dies or spills their drink.

Another favorite is the 55-30-75-10-90 people. Oh yeah, that pedal down there is tricky. Hold it down long enough, you go 90. Hit the wide one to the left, you go 10. Is there a dog in the road? No, you're just retarded. I like to look at the scenery as much as the next guy, but I also don't want to be the victim of road rage or a pissed off cop. So, hit the cruise. Never need to look down, you can practice your tap dance lesson, riverdance along with Michael Flatley, or play air pipe organ. I don't care, just use it. It's not like it only operates on interstate highways.

Today is Ash Wednesday. I decided to give up soda. We'll see how that goes.

Supah Bowl Sunday!

2008-02-03T11:31:00.000-05:00

So, this year, it's crazy-assed Northern accents battling it out for KING OF THE WORLD!!

I think I see the final score from up here!

But, yo! You's guyz don't ask me for my super bowl prediction. Instead let's go to yours, and my, favorite ovah the tawp, supah wicked psyched Bahstan supah-fan, Fitzy .

Everybody needs a little time away.....

2008-01-31T00:58:00.000-05:00

Ah, Chicago. Your sellout schmaltzy 80s tunes gave us so much.

Well, I'm back. (insert applause here)

Some good, some bad since the last post. I think I'm about five days out from completing my document prospectus. I found a good example of how I want to outline my paper, and now the pieces should fall into place. With a bit of luck, by the middle of February, I'll have the green light to crank dat. (dissertation)
On the cool side of our McDLT-esque post, I've had an interesting evening. Has it ever happened that sometimes you have to help someone make a decision that may hurt you? This very occurrence happened tonight. By advising someone to "go off into the desert" and come back better in tune with their goals and needs along with a better understanding of themselves, I may have allowed myself to be worked out of the equation that is this person's life. I truly hope this is not the case, and that the friendship and relationship developed over the years will not only remain, but grow stronger. I often wonder where to draw the line between selfishness for my own needs and love/respect/care for another person in allowing them to make decisions that have an affect on me. In any case, they are now exploring the desert that is their inner self, and will hopefully return renewed, in tune with their being, and happy.

I will be here, anxiously awaiting their arrival, and hoping that no matter if our paths continue on together or now move in separate directions, the memories we've made in our journey to this point will be fond and forever remembered. Good luck my friend.

What's new pussycat?

2008-01-20T11:19:00.000-05:00

Woah, woah, woah. (thank you Tom Jones).

So, in the couple weeks since the last blog, we've had Christmas, New Years, a UGA victory in the sUGAr bowl, and a couple weeks of a new semester. So sue me. I've played a gig with the Rat Pack, gone to London, and seen it "snow" in Georgia for the first time.

Other than that, nothing big going on. Got some gigs ongoing and coming up, need to write the paper, teach the youts at the GC. Oh, and I need to play some Wally world bingo.

Twas' 2 nights before Christmas

2007-12-24T07:10:00.000-05:00

Twas' 2 nights before Christmas, and all through my apartment,
Not a creature was stirring, except for my downstairs neighbor- watching war movies at 2am...

The egg nog was empty, not a drop up in there,
Remembering that poem about a dog and it's hair.

The birds were nestled all snug in their cage,
Escaping to freedom their lingering rage.
I'd just brushed my teeth, and dove into bed,
"A long winter's nap is in order," I said.
When out on the lawn, there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window, I stumbled and swore,
And hit my damn toe on the edge of the door.
The moon on the hoods of the cars in the lot,
Showed the luster of rust on my neighbor's old truck.
When what to my wandering eyes should appear,
But a whiny high school kid, and her mom- with a beer.
With her sequenced red sweater and old "f-me" kicks,
I thought for a minute that I would be sick.

More loudly than airplanes her daughter complained,
And she bitched, and she shouted, and she called her mom names.
"I'm tired, I'm hungry, I don't want to go."
I wanted to strangle that ungrateful ho.
From the top of the stairs, to the car down below,
"Quit stomping your feet, I was sleeping you know!"

And then, as I returned to my bed,
I heard the pounding of footsteps above my head.
They must be packing their safe to go to Grandma's place,
Or bowling, or jogging around, or in place.
Since I was awake, I figured I'd watch them
So I would know who to kick in the rectum.

A crapload of bags the daughter had to haul,
And she looked like she was moving away till next fall.
Her eyes- how they squinted! Her pimples, how many!
And her jean size was bordering 18 or 20!
She was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed like Nelson Muntz in spite of myself.

She said lots of words as she grudgingly worked,
Dragging suitcases down the stairs, that noisy-assed jerk.
And sticking her finger right up her nose,
I wondered if they could see the digit I rose.
And I heard her complain, as they drove out of sight,
"We're going to grandma's for two whole nights?"

So I figured I'd blog since I was now awake,
Or scratch out my eyes and my ears with a rake.
I'll now try to return to my slumber-like state,
But the car horn outside will now not abate.
I think it's a plan to keep me all sleepy,
Or just that my neighbors are all really creepy.
When you live in a building with all sorts of folks,
Their sleeping habits never match yours, what a joke.
But the birds are now singing, and I'll try to rest,
May your Christmas be the absolute best.

What do we need to do?

2007-12-02T20:47:00.000-05:00

Well, the dawgs got the shaft.

Saw that coming. But, not only did we get the Nat. Championship shaft, we got a BCS shaft, a Rose Bowl shaft, and we have to play some hula skirt wearing "B" squad with nothing to lose. Can you say Boise State/Oklahoma?

I've come up with a tentative schedule for UGA for next year to ensure an outside shot at the National Championship game:

1. Play regular SEC schedule plus USC, Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio State, West Virginia, and a team of Mike Ditka sired Super Bears. Go undefeated, beating eveyone by at least 42 and then schedule the Patriots.
" Now, is that a team of regular sized Ditkas, or mini Ditkas?"
2. Beat the Pats, then beat the Celtics in basketball.

3. Beat up Muhammed Ali and Mike Tyson. "Fava beans, and a nice Chanti. FFFFTTTTTTTT!"

4. Take Rodger Federer in straight sets.

5. Beat Tiger Woods in a skins game.

6. Get Halle Berry's phone number

7. Get in a giant football player human pyramid, have Mikey Henderson climb to the top and set a Guinness record. "Mikey can see his house from up there..... Brilliant!"

8. Have our Offensive line win dancing with the stars.
"OK Smarty, go to a party...."

I think, after completing this task, we would be ranked #2 in the BCS to play an 8-4 Notre Dame team in the Championship game in January 2009. "Does this headset make my ass look big?" - no, your ass makes your ass look big, fatty.

Go Dawgs, and Go F*%K the BCS.

ROAD TRIP

2007-11-01T15:46:00.000-04:00

Well, not really. Had to take the ol'roomate to the airport this afternoon and be back to administer the second history of rock midterm, which I'm doing now. That's right, at this very moment, about 30 undergrads are wondering what they could do to help their grades. Like, study next time.

Anyhow, as Cale and I were on 316, driving through the worst excuse for a county ever (Ggwwiinneett) we saw a car with a license plate cover that said DUB and dubmagazine.

We thought it might be some weird Bush magazine with sections like "Tractor of the Month," "Mispronunciation of the Month," "Incorrect History Fact of the Month," "Axis of Evil of the Month" and "Terror Warning Level of the Month." Either that, or it's a magazine for amputees with sinus problems. (Hold your nose and say NUB)

Turns out, it's a car mag. So unimaginative.

Also, what is it with the big orange T stickers on trucks. Woo-hoo, you root for Tennessee. (Notice I didn't say- "you went to", or "you graduated from") I think there is a direct link to the size of said sticker and size of the ridiculous goatee and beer belly on the driver of the truck. I'm just saying. 4 out of 4 on I-85. Just saying...

In other driving news, YOU GO 316. The ramp is done for the merge onto 85, you can now humanely merge in the right lane instead of playing some kind of Saw IV video game version of merging, where you take your life into your hands even more than usual.

In review: midterm, Gwinnett sucks ass, dub magazine is duMb, and I hate Tennessee.

Go Dawgs.

Dawgs win? Of course they do.

2007-10-28T20:57:00.000-04:00

Look at the math.

3 years ago, UGA has healthy QB, no bye week (we win a close one)
2 years ago, UGA has broke-ass QB, no bye week (we lose)
1 year ago, UGA has broke-ass starting QB, no bye week (we lose)
This year, UGA has healthy QB, and a bye week (we win)

Florida had an injured QB and no bye week. Hmm...

Healthy + Rested = win. Go figure. And, Go Dawgs.

We blitzed. It worked. Granted T-Shoulder was hurt, but we won't be playing a running QB threat like he can be the rest of the year. I think we need to blitz like that every game. The corners and safeties played well in zone and 1 on 1 (except for that one play- doh!)

We play with that intensity and urgency every week for the rest of the year and we might get to the ATL.

Go Anyone Playing The Vols.

Make like a Nintendo Game

2007-10-12T16:43:00.000-04:00

and blow me! I passed my orals today, meaning I'm just a long-ass paper away from my doctorate.

Oh yeah.

No rest for the weary, off to Augusta tomorrow for two salsa gigs. Money, money, money, money...

MONEY!

Did someone say Eddie Money?
no. no one said Eddie freakin Money.

5 days

2007-10-08T11:10:00.000-04:00

According to my calculations, I theoretically have only five more days in my life in which I have to study. So, I guess I'll make them count. I'm doing my oral defense (insert oral joke here) on Friday, after which I'll hopefully have only my document left to do before you all have to call me Doctor. (I'm not that arrogant)

In other news:

I hope everyone is thinking about their Halloween costumes for this year. I know I am!

Looks like the Dawgs aren't as good as we all thought.

I'd very much like to see a new DC for the Dawgs- Martinez is not good.

Brown has a broken collar bone- out for 4-6 weeks. Good thing Lump is back.

I need new glasses. These old ones (which I've had for 6 years) are starting to fall apart.

I'm hungry. Time for lunch.

Stay classy, Athens.

DAWGS WIN!! DAWGS WIN!!!

2007-09-22T23:26:00.000-04:00

If we could complete passes like that last one during the game, we wouldn't have needed overtime. But, what the heck, we were supposed to lose and didn't. Respek!

Who wants to touch me?

2007-09-21T15:07:00.000-04:00

I SAID WHO WANTS TO F'n TOUCH ME?

I think I did fine on my theory redo today, meaning with any luck, I'll be a doctoral candidate in about 2 weeks. Oh yeah. Longest 4 hours of my life this morning, but the payoff was that I think I know what was going on in both pieces I had to analyze.
Time for some relaxation and football tomorrow! Go Dawgs!

Avast! Me Hearties!!!

2007-09-19T11:07:00.000-04:00

It be talk like a pirate day, says I. Belay your work and splice the mainbrace, take your jollyboat and sail ye to a pub. Handsomely now! Bring enough swag for the wenches and rum, and sing a shanty or two. Aft many a round, drag yourself back to port, so ye may find some booty with the Cap'n. (hehehe- cap'n booty)

Now be gone with ye, before I send ye down to Davy Jones' locker.

Aaarrrrrrrrrr..........

if you need some pirate words of your own, go here.

Blame who?

2007-09-09T09:32:00.000-04:00

So I'm reading some press articles about the Dawgs game yesterday and I keep seeing comments (from the press and the douchebags that write in) that the defense played "confused," "soft", etc. and that our defense was out-coached by Spurrier.

Funny. I only saw one touchdown yesterday, and a few long field goal attempts.

I don't remember any "black-magic" or "flee-flickers" or any other hyphenated plays from them. I saw a team that moved the ball fairly well, but not in a dominating way.

If your defense can hold someone to 16 points, you should be able to win.

I think the blame needs to go to the offense; more specifically, the offensive play-calling in the first half.

Who runs between the tackles when the opposing team has 8-9 guys in the box? We don't have 290 pound running backs. (see Jorvorskie Lane)

Why totally abandon the offensive scheme that got you 35 points last week?

I think if Jasper and Casper have to run laterally on every running down in the first half, they get tired. THEN you try some runs right at them.

Oh well, I guess that's why I'm just a grad student and not a millionaire offensive coordinator for a potentially amazing team.

Still, if we get our act together, 11-1 ain't bad. go dawgs?

Some bucks and some days later, I've pipmed my life

2007-09-06T00:36:00.000-04:00

Dropped some Benjies this past week and a half. Got a new TV, the Dawg games are going to look awesome in HD!

Also decided that 80GB wasn't big enough in the computer, so I got a 250.

Love those electronics!

I ended up driving to the ATL two days in a row to get this hard drive installed, as I was having problems with the computer recognizing the drive, and ended up just doing it myself. The internets are great for finding technical advice on fixing stuff, or bomb building. Hopefully I followed the right instructions...

so far so good.

Almost a week in

2007-08-22T23:39:00.000-04:00

and I'm adjusting to the new schedule. After some phone calls from the D.Lo and the Mills, it looks like I'll be playing with the wind ensemble for the first concert only. After hearing the auditions, M. called me and told me that they needed me to play on this concert.

Tuesday will be my day to visit "da-Ville," as I've come to know it. I have five students this year, so the 90 minute drive each way will have a nice payoff. A little something for the effort.

I still need to finish my comps, the great Sandini, or TGS, has been very nice to me so far. I think it might be a trap.

Sarah's in the ATL now, so I'm sure I'll be getting in some runs to the new hizzy every week or two.

My latest gig in FL was so much fun. And they paid me extra. I remember why I really dig commercial music. Good money, lots of applause, and no fat chicks.

OK, that's it for now. I'll be back.

Maybe I'll get time to watch some movies. Probably not.

Oh Yeah

2007-08-03T20:22:00.001-04:00

That's right. I forgot for a bit why I was going into university teaching and getting my DMA.

I remember now. go band...

My new hero

2007-07-08T17:25:00.000-04:00

By now, I'm sure you know Mike Rowe, the host of Dirty Jobs on Discovery. What you may not know, is that he is an Eagle scout, and former baritone with the Baltimore opera. He also worked for Qvc. His sarcastic humor apparently got him fired a couple times from qvc, and here is an example.

The cat sack.

Check out the others too. What a riot, they should have stand up comedians doing the qvc thing- that might increase sales and viewership.

Game On

2007-07-08T11:27:00.000-04:00

Going to have to dig up 40 bucks in a couple weeks. Rock out, with your cock out.

Happy 4th!

2007-07-04T10:42:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone has a great Independence day, even if you have to work. It's a pretty amazing thing that happened here 231 years ago, when we set up a new country based on some very cool ideas. I don't think we've got it quite right yet, but it's still a pretty great place to live.

And if you see an English guy, laugh at him like Nelson Muntz today!

Holy Crap

2007-06-22T23:51:00.000-04:00

Every once in a while, you get to experience a musical event that puts everything back into perspective. Tonight was one of them. Got to see the Philadelphia Orchestra play their "Tchaikovsky's greatest hits" concert. Their new concert hall is fantastic, and the orchestra was killer. Wow.

No rest for the weary.

2007-06-13T12:15:00.000-04:00

Tell me this is for real. Oh, and tell me when it's going to spread to the rest of the country. This is a sport I could get behind!

linky

actually, after checking out the "athletes" I think we need more research and development before making this mainstream.

Taco Hell, Run for the

2007-05-15T18:05:00.000-04:00

No, just run.
I decided to go to taco bell today for lunch at about 11:30. Keep in mind that this isn't the 2am graveyard crew that caters to drunks and potheads who will eat anything at 2am, just as long as it doesn't taste like booze or pot. This is the lunch rush, should be fast, polite, and accurate crew.

So I pull up to the "Drive-Thru" (I guess the missing letters emphasize the speed in which I'll receive my food, or maybe it's an omen of them forgetting what I order), and am greeted by "How ya doin'?" I say, "fine" then wait. For about ten seconds. I guess that I'm supposed to order now, even though I didn't get the obligatory "would you like to try one of our [fill in the blank new item] combos" or "What can I get you?" So I order a steak grilled stuffed burrito and two beef soft tacos.

Did you remember what I ordered?

Because she didn't. I got back, "so a beef grilled stuffed burrito and two hard tacos, right?"

I said "no" and repeated my order. It was then correctly repeated back to me.

"Would you like a refreshing beverage?"

"No, thanks."

So, I pull around to the window, hand her my card, and she proceeds to hand me a drink. I say politely, "I didn't get a drink."

"Oh, right."

I get my recipt and I check it. 3 items, GSFB-STK, 2ST-B (or whatever their lingo is, it matched up though to what I ordered)

I get my bag of food, 3 items in it. Cool, I say "thanks" and drive home.

I open up the bag and find a taco supreme (hard shell) and two bean and cheese burritos. Oh, and the taco had a big hair on it.

Needless to say, the bell got an email.

Douchebags.

Hoop Jumping Phase 1- com, com, com

2007-04-20T16:37:00.000-04:00

Hoop jumping phase one complete...

What a long week. I think I did OK. Have to wait two weeks to find out

Then it's on to the orals.Wish me luck!

Ding, DIng

2007-04-15T22:05:00.000-04:00

Time for the title bout for my future.
Comps all week.
Monday, Tuesday are history
Wednesday is Theory
Friday is trumpet and brass.

Now let's touch gloves and come out swinging!!

Who's down with PT?

2007-04-02T21:26:00.000-04:00

I start physical therapy tomorrow on my shoulder, which is much better than the original thought that I would be needing heart surgary or something. It's just that occasional stabbing pain in your chest isn't associated with a shoulder injury (by me). I'm told that there is something damaged in there and the muscles in my chest and back are "picking up the slack" and are cramping up. Well, whatever, as long as the therapy fixes it. Maybe I just need a massage a week!

Thoroughly Exhausted!

2007-03-21T22:44:00.000-04:00

Playing this musical all week with a small ensemble- no other trumpets, and the director keeps giving me more stuff to play from the 2nd and 3rd tpt parts...

I wonder if I'll get paid triple???

DOGGY PUNCHED!!!

2007-03-14T01:20:00.000-04:00

I was with Sarah at the dog park today (basically a big 200 yard fenced-in pen for dogs to play, run, hump, etc.) when a big yellow lab ran up to me with a tennis ball. He dropped it at my feet, so I proceeded to bend down to pick it up and throw it for him. "What a friendly dog" I started to think, when suddenly all 50 pounds of dog got so excited that I was going to play with him that he jumped. His head smacked me right in the lip. So, I have a home made collagen look on my left upper lip, with a nice bruise on the inside to go with it. Looks like a couple of days off the horn.

In other news, all you Illinois sports fans, enjoy. I don't get this so much. Small rant to follow:

When all of these people, (Florida State, Illinois, Washington DC, Cleveland, etc.) got together back in the 1920s or whenever to pick a mascot, did they look to make fun of a people or were they looking for a representative that would embody the nature of the team? Bears, Eagles, Fighting Irish, etc. These mascots are all seen as strong, powerful, or fierce things.

Maybe if I were Native American, I would see this differently, but I feel that a way to remember and celebrate a culture, albeit for sports only is a start. It may be out of ignorance that I feel this way.

Oh, here are a couple pics from the Belgian Brass guys hanging with us. Let's end this blog on a high note!

...As Balls

2007-03-12T18:43:00.000-04:00

I just got back from taking the Belgian Brass to the airport. I was fortunate to introduce the Belgians to Atlanta traffic and this.
With any luck, they got on their flight, even if they were "late as balls"

Woo hoo- 4 hours to get from Athens to the airport. Then 2 hours back in 5:00 traffic. I could have almost given them a ride to Virginia!

It was a great week with great concerts, rehearsals, and parties.

Now, I'm tired as balls. SPRING BREAK!!!!
Hopefully, I'll get to Brussels and see them soon.

Everybody's working for the weekend

2007-02-09T14:26:00.000-05:00

Oh yeah, it's Friday afternoon. It was a long week, but now I have two whole days. The wind ensemble concert didn't suck- surprisingly so. Tomorrow night is the big 70s party. That should be fun. Stay cool.

Michael Brecker, you will be missed

2007-01-15T22:10:00.000-05:00

We lost another jazz legend yesterday. Here's the story

A great musician, and a cool guy. I got to meet him about 6 years ago when he played in Arizona.

He played with everyone from Billy Joel to Frank Zappa, and had a great solo career too.

"It was like watching Roy Jones in his prime boxing an Olsen twin."

2007-01-09T18:39:00.000-05:00

(that's a quote about the "game" last night)Wow.

How much fun will it be to beat up on the National Champs next year? Toy Smith should return the Heisman, barely used! He was sacked more than he had completions.

How bout that SEC?

Bowl Movement

2006-12-29T10:27:00.000-05:00

Well, it's bowl season.

With all the big games left, here's hoping the SEC represents itself well.

Oh, and here's some fodder for you VT haters:
This is a photo of the Hokie drum major (and the rest of the band) doing the hokie-pokie. that's right...
you go girl, shake it all about.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-23T10:41:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm back from visiting the family up north, and I'm back in Georgia. I had a nice visit with my good friends Tim and Kelly who are now in Blacksburg, VA.

Tomorrow, it's off to Madison for a Christmas eve gig, then Monday, to the ATL to spend time with Sarah's family on Christmas.

Here's hoping you have a great Christmas, and get everythig on your list, big or small...

One for the thumb, plus one

2006-11-26T11:13:00.000-05:00

Wow. What a crazy game. What a great "couple" of years. Here are some stats about the unstoppable Calvin Johnson: "The Bulldogs have limited Johnson to seven catches for 71 yards and one touchdown in the last three seasons. He's had 15 single games with better numbers in the same time span." Oh, and the also great Reggie Ball:

A four-year starter, Reggie Ball has struggled most against the Jackets' in-state rival. Those problems continued Saturday, with Ball completing less than 30 percent of his passes as Tech lost to Georgia 15-12. With the 3-point defeat, the Yellow Jackets can probably wave goodbye to any lingering hope of a BCS invite. Here are Ball's numbers in four career games against the Bulldogs.
W-L	0-4
Comp. Pct.	43.3
Pass YPG	104.5
TD-INT	1-5
* Ball's numbers on Saturday: 6-for-22, 42 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs

It's OK

2006-11-13T11:28:00.000-05:00

To kiss another man.

Go dawgs.

It's not you,

2006-11-09T21:51:00.000-05:00

It's me! It's been a while since I last blogged. It's been like 2 weeks, 2 Georgia losses, and 2 states since I last blogged. I could talk about how busy I've been, but then I'd be lying. I guess I've been busy playing my horn every day, and playing free gigs for everyone in the state.

People really piss me off sometimes. Like that guy who is driving down the street, and you're waiting to turn left, and he's the only car coming so you wait for him to pass, then he turns into your apartment complex without a frickin' blinker and then you can't pull out onto the street because now there are 17 school busses and 3 UPS trucks and a blind guy crossing the street. So you end up waiting five minutes to make a left and the only thing to do while waiting is come up with even more creative ways to insult the douchebag.
I guess that thing has a hemi, but it doesn't have a blinker!

Or the asshat in front of you in line at the grocery store, and they have 36 things and have 37 coupons, and the cashier (who maybe finished high school) is standing there waiting for the freakin vernal equinox, and you start to wonder why they have more coupons than items until their bitch of a girlfriend pushes their way in front of you with a loaf of bread that they have a coupon for but couldn't find their first time through the store so they hold up the entire store for five minutes while she has to go back and find their 37-grain whole wheat unbleached, "no not that one, the one with the fruits on the label" damn bread, then argue the price even with the coupon. (Oh, and I'm buying a 12 pack of Coke Zero and some beef jerky- with cash) and the only reason I can't use the self-exam is because the technological genius Howdy-Doody motherf*%$er can't hit the reset button on the machine and they're all "out of order"

Well, I guess I did make a left to drive to the store today, so that's something I've been up to.
dammit.

It's not "weather" you win or lose...

2006-10-27T12:10:00.000-04:00

Sure, the spread might be 14. Sure, we have a freshman QB who has yet to live up to the hype. Sure, our defense has been suspect as of late.

But when you wake up at 8:45am and it's sunny, breezy, and 75 degrees- it really doesn't matter. This trip is as much about enjoying time with friends, relaxing and digging life as it is about football.

Go dawgs!

wow

2006-10-21T19:04:00.000-04:00

way to hold off mighty Mississippi state. Man, we suck this year.

If you're the praying type

2006-10-12T17:15:00.000-04:00

Say one for my family tonight. My grandmother had a stroke last night, and the doctors are saying she's probably not going to make it. I'm heading home Saturday morning. See you soon.

The weekend in review...

2006-10-08T21:44:00.000-04:00

Saturday:
SON OF A BITCH!!!
Bulldogs and Yankees lose. I had crab legs for dinner, that was pretty much the only highlight.

I think we should have put Stafford in once we were losing. Probably wouldn't have had those two easy interceptions. Maybe we would have... who knows, we played a great 1st half.

I think the Yankees should get rid of A-Rod. We have enough hitting, and we could afford to bring Lefty Grove and Cy Young back from the dead with the money we're spending on him. Well, at least we could buy a few good living pitchers.

Sunday:
I went to Oktoberfest in beautiful, scenic, Alpine Helen GA. Went to the Feste Halle and had some German beer and wurst,

danced a little Polka, had some Sauerkraut, and apple fritters.
All that German food made me want to sing a little Wagner, so I got dressed for the part...
We also saw a little bit of everything there. Like this, for example:

We stopped in Commerce for dinner on the way home and saw the 4th quarter of the Eagles-Cowboys game. Finally, I had a team win this weekend. My Philly fans made T.O. feel right at home, and I found this article about the fans in the
"City of Brotherly Love, Except for Athletes Who May or May Not Play for a Philly Team."

"But only briefly did fans sing "O.D." once the win was secured. No one tossed any objects on the field and the rowdy crowd was well behaved.
Of course, Philly fans are relentless in their jeering, once throwing batteries in anger at St. Louis outfielder J.D. Drew because he didn't sign with the Phillies after they drafted him in 1997. In the most infamous case, Santa Claus was booed and pelted with snowballs during a game between the Eagles and Minnesota in 1968.
A beautiful, sunny 70 degree kickoff took away one Philly fan weapon: There was no chance of Owens being pelted by snowballs."

E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!!!

Oh, What A Feelin'

2006-09-25T21:32:00.000-04:00

You know that feeling you get when everything is cool, but you know that the poo is about to hit the oscillator? I have that right now and I don't know why. It's too quiet...

On a lighter note, I ran across this today:

Ted Okada,
President,
Toyota Australia, PO Box 63, Altona North, Vic, 3024

Dear Mr Okada, I note with interest that after Australia II won the America's Cup, your company named its re-badged Holden Commodore the Toyota Lexcen in honour of Australia II designer Ben Lexcen. With that in mind, I implore you to re-name your forthcoming large six-cylinder car, the Aurion, after Australian patriot Steve Irwin, following his death this week. It's the right thing to do to honour the passing of a great Australian, and I think the name Toyota Irwin has a distinctly welcoming ring to it. It implies your new car would care for the environment and would defeat any of God's land-based creatures if confronted. Unless the Irwin is designed as an amphibious craft, it is not necessary to even mention the whole death-by-stingray thing. I await your reply.

Your faithfully,
Peter Hackett www.spinstartshere.com

UPDATE: There could be a problem with the Toyota Irwin. It already has a nemisis:

- the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray:

Don't drink and dive.

You give love a bad name

2006-09-04T11:35:00.000-04:00

Bloody hell. If Adam Sandler dies next, this will be the crappiest 2 weeks ever!

Rest in Peace, Steve. What a crazy way to go. Hopefully, someone will pick up the conservation torch and keep those endangered animals around a little longer.

It's Saturday Afternoon In Athens!!!

2006-09-02T08:45:00.000-04:00

Seven Notes on a Trumpet
by ibdawg

It is Saturday. All week long you've waited. What started out on Monday as a tight feeling in the pit of your stomach, is now a 10,000-pound gorilla tap dancing on your spleen. You've done your best to concentrate and do your job this week. You made an honest effort to put "all this" on the back burner and focus on "the important things", but to no avail. The images just kept coming: bright fall sunshine and crisp autumn air painting the classic city in Hellenic splendor. The aroma of a thousand tailgate feasts wafting through the air, and everywhere, everything - - Red and Black. You've gone from sports page to magazine, to news show, to internet site, and in every conversation in every office, diner, hallway and cubicle you entered this week, you have tried to reassure yourself of the outcome of this week's contest. But in your heart of hearts you know there's only one way to settle it: 'Dawgs gotta tee it up and play. And now it's Saturday. As you contemplate the day ahead an image of The Hedges flashes in your mind; green grass, crisp white lines, sunshine ricocheting off the instruments of the Redcoats, and 80,000 - plus fans volleying "GEORGIA - BULLDAWGS" back and forth across the stadium, rattling you all the way to the soles of you feet. You swing out of bed, heart pounding. Grab a cuppa Joe and a quick shower as you prepare for the pilgrimage to A-town. You slam in a tape of the Redcoat Band and crank up the stereo. "Hail" bounces off the walls while you don your lucky shirt (socks, hat, pants, whatever) as you perform the pre-game ritual. The phone rings - - Yes, you're up. Yes, you have the tickets. "No, my cooler's full, we'll have to take yours, too. I'll stop and get some ice on the way." Gather up the tailgate supplies and load the car. Why does it take so damn long for everyone else to get ready? You check and recheck the supplies - - table, chairs, food. No need to check the drinks, no way those'll get left behind! Cigars? Check. Binoculars? Check. Camera? Blanket? Check. 'Dawg flags secured to the car and ready to fly - - all packed up and ready. Finally! Time to go. You reassure yourself for the millionth time that the tickets are in your pocket and you "saddle up." Headed to The Classic City. Dawg-patch, USA. Larry and Scott and Loran on the pre-game show, telling you how good these guys are gonna be (yeah, like you need something else to worry about!). Loran threads in a history lesson, and hey - - an interview with one of the Dawgs from way back when. Always wondered what happened to him. Corporate exec in N'awlins. Who'd of ever guessed? You smile as you remember a moment of glory for him in a past game. On the radio, James Brown is hammering out, "Dooley's Junkyard Dawgs" and as your friends get in the car, you all sing along. En route, cars pass by you by: they're singing too, and barking as they pass. It's a rolling party and the gangs all there! You sense the excitement as it grows, mile by mile. Traffic slows to a crawl somewhere near the Clarke County line. It is a long, happy, red and black serpent winding its way toward Sanford Stadium. Dawg flags and bumper stickers. "Boiled P-nuts just ahead". White shoe polish on windshields proclaiming the magnificence of the Dawg nation, and snatches of Larry pleading from the speakers of passing cars and trucks: "He's at the 40, the 35, the 30, run Lindsey, run!" And your heart races, your gut tightens - - you just can't wait to be there. Now on final approach - - you turn down Lumpkin (Milledge, Baxter . . . ) homing in on THE tailgate spot. Other friends are already there and as you get out of the car, it hits you! Carnival atmosphere. Red. Black. "How 'bout them Dawgs!" "They Hell ain't they?" The fragrance of charcoal heating up and barbecue on the grill. Opposing fans drifting by, good natured ribbing , and "hey, y'all eat some of this, we got plenty". Introductions all around, and then serious discussion and comparison of the teams. Who's hurt? How fast is that wide receiver? That O-line looked awesome last week. Y'all gonna keep that coach around next year?" Drinks with old friends and new ones. Stories about games gone by. "Man, they've added a lot to the campus since the last time I was here!" and "I don't think they grew 'em like that when I was in school!" Have another drink. Have some more barbecue. And another drink. Or two. And finally, pack it all up, it's time to go! Man, you really didn't need that extra barbecue, that 10,000 pound gorilla is kicking to get out right now! You merge into the red and black sea that is moving inexorably toward Sanford, the Temple of the Dawg. The sun is as bright as you imagined it would be. Not too hot, not too cold. 'A crisp, fall day' as Larry might describe it. Red and Black everywhere. Sequined coats and polyester pants. Hats. Shorts. Boots. Faces painted with renderings of Uga and "Dawgs". "Buy a program?" "You bet." And, "Oh man, I gotta have that tee-shirt." Barking Dawgs everywhere as you're more or less towed towards the stadium by the throng of the Dawg nation. But underneath the bridge, near the student center, the crowd stops. And there stands the band in all its splendor, Redcoats blazing like fire. Sequins from the Flag Corps' costumes glittering like diamonds. Notes and rifts fill the air as they mill around, warming up, waiting impatiently for the spectacle to begin. They pose for photos with family and friends. Kisses and hugs all around. "There's Uga!" and everyone tries to get a look and a photo. "Hey Mr. Seiler." "Hey Coach!" Kids run around at your knees; stadium urchins already beginning their collection of souvenirs from a day in Dawgpatch. The moment freezes in your mind as you notice that somewhere close to the middle of the band, beneath the crowd assembled on the bridge, one lone trumpet swings skyward. . . The atmosphere is instantly charged with about a gazillion volts, and the crowd waits expectantly. You KNOW what's coming and still, you can't control your reaction. Goosebumps rise on your arms. The hair on your neck stands straight up and a lump forms in your throat. Your eyes well up. All those memories of all those years and all those Dawgs suddenly converge in your mind and your chest feels like it's gonna explode. And then come the seven notes. . . Seven plaintive notes, rendered slowly, proudly, reverently into the heavens. "Mine eyes have seen the glory. . ." And Dawgs all around you, and above you begin to answer back. Just one or two at first, but it continues to grow like a pack of hungry wolves, becoming louder and wilder, until the bridge itself threatens to collapse from the clamor! And then the rest of the band joins in, and suddenly the whole damn world is ablaze with the fire that burns in the breast of the Dawg Nation. GLORY. Not "The Battle Hymn of the Republic". Not the fight song of some backwoods pretender in Alabama. GLORY, the battle hymn of the Dawg Nation!. Glory, Glory to Ol' Georgia. The uproar grows and the crowd melds and begins to move in unison, the fans, the band, all one. . . Suddenly it's not a crowd anymore. It has become something else entirely. You can't describe it, but you know its composition. It is Theron Sapp and Mike Castronis; Buck Belue and Lewis Grizzard; Craig Hertwig and Cowboy Parish and Preston Riddlehuber. Larry, and "Loran, whatta ya got?" Ray the quarterback and Ray the coach. Squab the equipment manager and Jake Scott. Hell, it's Hershel Walker the Endzone Stalker, and Vince Dooley and Joel Eaves, with a little bit of Wally Butts and Erk Russell thrown in. It's "He's got a man open - - he's gonna throw a long bomb! and "Look at the sugar falling from the sky!" It's Robert Edwards tight-ropin' down in the corner, and he got in there! And Verron Haynes stepping down in Knoxville with the winning catch. It's every friend you ever sat with through a game on a Saturday in Athens, Georgia. And suddenly, what moments ago was merely a crowd has transformed into an indomitable entity ; a juggernaut of energy and pride that streams into the stadium like smoke from a battery of double-barreled canon. It's game time, and so we press - - into the Temple of the Dawg, we enter; a huge machine in Red and Black.

Go dawgs!

Gonna Fly Now...

2006-08-25T11:20:00.000-04:00

I hate for my 100th blog post to be a downer. We'll miss you.

The South, The Apostrophe, and Me

2006-08-17T21:37:00.000-04:00

I went to the good old home of Southern mass-marketed food tonight... The Cracker Barrel.

I know I'm skating on thin ice here, but prepare for a slight rant about the South.

We sit down at our table, and our waiter greets us with the typical Georgia greeting: "How Y'all doin' tonight?"

Fine. It's still a little funny to me, but I'm used to it by now. What happened over the next hour was a barrage of AT LEAST 30 occurrences of the word "Y'all". Bear in mind that all of these came from our waiter, who saw us for a total of maybe five minutes. It was like the part of George Carlin's vocabulary that says "f*@k" was transformed into"y'all."

"How y'all doin?"
"Y'all's food tastin' good?"
"Y'all need anythin'?"
"Anythin' I can get for y'all?"
"Lemme git y'all's check."

OK- first comment. "Y'all's" is a re-goddam-diculous word. You do realize that the word "your" would take care of all that extra SHIFT key juggling I'm having to do to retell this story. Also, the word "you" can be plural. How are you tonight? If you want to get particular, add in the you, just without the shortnin'... "How are you all tonight?"

If these steadfast rules of apostrophes are so great, I suggest full implementation of them in all aspects of Southern speech.

Since, as we have already established, the word "you" can be singular or plural, and can be shortened to y' I suggest doing the same to other words that share this interesting characteristic. For example: deer. There is one deer under my car, and you are about to run the hell over several deer with your car.

Instead, this sentence would go something like this:
"There is a y'deer under my car, and y'all 'bout to run over y'deer with y'all's car."

ALL HAIL THE POWERFUL APOSTROPHE!!! Since it can apparently substitute for several letters, why not entire words. I think I will start writing essays this way. For example, take a possible music history question on an exam...

14) Discuss the ways in which J.S. Bach inspired classical era composition for sacred music.

My answer could, now, go something like this...

"J.S. Bach inspired classical era composition for sacred music by ' "

FANTASTIC! Don't worry, professor, the apostrophe represents all of the correct answers!

OK, end of rant. I was considering writing my blog this evening like this:

y' ' ''' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' y' ' 'll '

In other news, y'all ain't never gonna' believe 'dis shit...

If ever I find myself in a situation where a spilled glass of iced tea or other liquid is present and I need to take care of it, I have developed a method. It will be done with much flair. I will approach the spill with a great degree of concern- how should I handle this? What can I clean this up with? But, men like me (and a waiter tonight) will brush aside the concern- we are men of action! With a deliberate motion, I will proudly place a "Caution, wet floor" sign over the impending lawsuit and say confidently... "That should take care of it."

By the way, when spell check encounters the word "y'all" it's suggestion for the correct spelling is "Yale."

Until next time,

What, What, WHAT???!!!

2006-08-10T17:31:00.000-04:00

2 posts in as many days? That must mean school is starting and I'm busy again. Why is it that the more time I spend doing work, the more I blog? Any excuse for a break, I guess.
Well, I got this cool web-photo thing set up, and some of my China pictures are there. Check them out if you want to. If not, piss off till I write more. Probably in the next day or two.

CHINER, PANDERS, AND BAMBOOS!!! 1 and 2

Faster than a speeding bullet

2006-08-09T18:08:00.000-04:00

No, I'm not talking about anything to do with the bedroom. Well, I guess I am a little cause my computer is in there. I decided to switch from the wireless internet provider that my apartment carries and go with the high speed cable internet. A trip to Chaata and Beast Buy later, and I have a sweet super fast set up. I'm gonna dig it for at least 23 more days till I get my cable bill!

In other news, I'm all registered and ready to go for the fall semester. Only 2 more till I'm done. No classes this year, but I'm still busy every day.

UGA band camp is in full effect. I'm happy to still be helping with them some, but not in a full-time way this year. I guess I need to practice more though.

I was offered the trumpet teacher job at this place, so I'll be heading down the road once a week to teach my huge studio of 4 students! It's great for the resume.

That's it for now. Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

You know it's summer when

2006-07-11T18:03:00.000-04:00

you plan a road trip around hot dogs. That's right, this morning Brad and I left our comfortable air-conditioned apartments to drive in Brad's unairconditioned drop top to Macon. Our quest was for these. The weathermen were off by about 9 degrees, so the supposed 90 degree day pushed us to the limits of human tolerance when we hit ALL the stoplights from Gray to Macon.

Luckily for them, their cheese dog (cheese, chili sauce, onion, mustard) is pretty much the best hot dog either of us had ever had. We also planned ahead and mapquested two cigar shops in Macon. One of which turned out to be the purveyor of these. Needless to say, a couple of these highly-prized smokes were obtained and will be consumed at a later date.

Tomorrow, I start teaching again. 2 consecutive band camps- WOO-HOO!! I needed to work on my tan anyhow...

I guess I'm not a vampire, but

2006-07-03T11:11:00.000-04:00

I am a lazy bastard. By now, you've probably heard all about China from someone. So, unless there are tons of interested comments posted here, I'll forget about that.

I've been up to , um, nothing since I've been back. A little practice everyday, little reading for comps, pretty relaxing so far. Gotta get on the ball soon and really study for these comps.

Maybe tomorrow...

I guess I'm not a Vampire

2006-06-02T14:39:00.000-04:00

I'll be reflecting back on the last two-ish weeks in the next few posts. If you don't care about my trip to China, just wait a week or so before checking back in. Although, if anything really cool happens in the meantime, don't worry. I'll insert an extra blog. Tomorrow will probably bring the first installment. If you're interested in additional and more descriptive analysis of the trip, visit Cale's blog located in the link to the right of your screen. It's dy-no-mite!!

In case you're trying to diet, check out this pic. In Mexico, I proudly ate the worm. In China, I ate some worms, then said "F" the worm, I ate what eats the worm!"

Them Schnitzingrubin will wear you out!

2006-05-30T18:26:00.000-04:00

Back from the other side of the world. I'm pretty much exhausted. It was like a 2 week long game day. More details and photos to come when I kick this jet lag thing.
Out.

See you on the flip side

2006-05-12T09:20:00.000-04:00

I will be away from the blog for a while. I don't think they have a lot of free/cheap internet in China. In lieu of complaining about bad drivers, stupid finals, long days, and the like, I will be "partying down, Chinese style."

"Now do what I do, and say what I say."

See you all when I get back fromthat says China, by the way...

One out of Two Ain't Bad

2006-05-07T10:36:00.000-04:00

Well, tomorrow I turn 28. Or as Sarah likes to say, "12 away from 40." (thanks, baby)
Because of this, I will be having a birthday party-ish thing tomorrow night. If you aren't a facebook person, and you want to come, gimme a call. (or if you are a facebook person and won't be in the Nashland, but in the Athland)
I COMMAND YOU TO DO THIS!!

No, you can't play bingo tomorrow.
Now, be nice to me- I'm old and cranky.

I realized...

2006-05-01T12:02:00.000-04:00

as I hit "save" on the computer at 3:30 this morning, that I had just finished my last paper in school. Except, of course, for that pesky dissertation next year. One final to take on Thursday, and the semester will officially have a fork in it.

Two weeks until China. I still can't believe that. Packing to begin soon. I'm sleepy. Reagan Smash! Reagan Smash! Reagan sleepy...

I gotta have Faith...

2006-04-23T22:00:00.000-04:00

Or less to drink. Great birthday/80s party on Saturday. Brad was the host with the most. Childeren in Athens are afraid. Hopefully everyone has recovered. Dr. Marty is in for a suprise when we all show up in our 80s gear for class! I will be your father figure...

Now that I'm in control:

2006-04-19T23:29:00.000-04:00

Here's how it's gonna be.

1st. Your new legion of saints and prophets shall be (in no particular order)
St. Brad of Vices
St. Dave of Quotes
St. Cale of Band
St. Brett of Philosophy
St. Trey the Oracle
St. Gunner the Silent but Deadly (we'll work on a better name)

These "Chris-ciples" are hereby demanded to go forth and spread the (insert your own adjective) news. Along with pandemonium, and coolness. But no rabies. I'm not going down as a feral god.

2nd. No popes yet. I'm not dead, so no building a church on anyone. It's a one-man show till then. When the end looks near, I'll make a decision. Perhaps a Peter in keeping with tradition. Like Peter Griffin.

3rd. All readers of this blog are to preach the benefits of attending St. Brad of Vice's 30th birthday party on Saturday. Although your savior will be in attendance, I will be in disguise as to not overshadow the glory of his new-found elderness.

That is all. (Don't worry, I'll get off my little god kick soon enough and return to mere mortality. Indeed I am powerful, as the Lutherans have foreseen.)

Things I learned this Easter

2006-04-17T10:21:00.000-04:00

Well, I must have played pretty well on my Easter gig. Not only was I paid well, I was made a deity.
Following is a copy of the bulletin. Check my name and student standing.

The FLOWERS today are given by Bob & Kathy Stallings to the Glory of God. Happy Easter!

GOD’S BLESSINGS to those celebrating birthdays this week: Sharon Wilson Saturday. And GOD’S BLESSINGS on those celebrating anniversaries this week: Phil & Char Larsen today & Phil & Cissie Johnson Monday.

The CHILDCARE ATTENDANTS scheduled for next Sunday are Amy Orr & Bill Stokes.

"Thank you” to the members of the BRASS QUARTET from the University of Georgia, Athens:

Tyler Browning, undergraduate student in trumpet

Daniel DeWitt, undergraduate student in trombone

Christ Probst, doctrinal student in trumpet

Jonas Williams, undergraduate student in trombone

That's right. Christ. Yeah, doctrinal student. Not only am I Christ, but I am also writing the doctrine. I think that's kind of like "I write the songs..." I'll have to check with my servant Barry Manilow.
Just to be sure it's no mistake, take a look at the check.

FEAR ME, FOR I AM AN ANGRY GOD!
Take the advice of the prophet Bart.. "Do what he saaay... Do what he saaay."

My first act as God made man is to cancel all projects involving papers and me writing them. That should smote Dr. Marty like he's never been smote before.

In lieu of human or animal sacrifice, I will be accepting lunches, dinners, and beverages.

I guess I need to make room on the wall for my Deity certificate. I suppose you don't need a Bachelor's degree whan you are omnipotent.

The blog has ended. Go in peace.

One More Hell Week

2006-04-10T14:44:00.000-04:00

and maybe a purgatory week after that. Then, it's write a paper, pass a final, go to China. I have rehearsals and concerts from today through Friday, one paper due Wednesday. Hopefully, that'll be finished tonight. We'll see...

The recital went pretty well. It's the best I've felt about a recital so far, and I may even be able to use one of the pieces for an audition tape. I have to listen to it a few times first to make sure.

Other than that, not much. Back to the grind for another fortnight.

4/6/06/6pm/Ramsey Hall

2006-04-03T12:53:00.000-04:00

BE THERE!! please.

You will hear, and hopefully enjoy:
Otto (the same forward and backward) Ketting's Intrada
Three movements (because who wants to hear more) of the 12 Heroique marches by Telemann
The in-famous (that's more than famous) Hummel trumpet concerto. Written, surprisingly enough, by Hummel
The Latham Suite- I got nothin. Oh, wait, it's 3 movements
Celebrating Harvest by Sun Jun. It's pretty much the gayest piece I could find that related to China.
Vesperaille from Toot Suite by Claude Bolling. It's delicious
And, the Levy-Athan polka by Jules Levy
All performed on tuned tubing of overpriced proportions.

You should be home by 7:30, unless you live outside of Athens, or have to go to the Wind Ensemble dress rehearsal afterwards. Sucks to be you. Or me I guess. Who wants to dress rehearse right after their recital?

Well, I expect you all to be there now. You people on the internet, you.

Victory Speeches, Apologies, and Missing Persons Reports

2006-03-26T13:15:00.000-05:00

First off, I am the undisputed Haiku champion of about 6 people who wrote into Gunner's blog (see link at right). That's right. Eat it, Mr. Seventh guy. Maybe you should have entered your funnier/grosser/more intelligent (not hard) haiku.

Secondly, sorry for not posting lots recently. Let's just say if you are planning on attending a concert,recital, or building opening at the Hugh or on campus over the next month, you'll probably see me on stage. You should definitely plan on attending my recital though. April 6, 6pm in Ramsey. Hopefully, it won't suck.

Thirdly, some of you out there in blog land (especially some of you who have your names printed to the right of this screen) need to get on the ball and write at least once a week. Come on, I'm about to send out a search party for some of you.

Chris. out.

SPRING BREAK!!

2006-03-20T15:25:00.000-05:00

Show us your boobies...

It's funny how the faculty always tells you that. No, that the faculty tells you to enjoy your break, but they give you 947x10 to the 16th power of assignments and papers to turn in the two weeks after break. (Special prize to the person who figures out what 947 x 10 to the 16th power is)

I went to the new Georgia fish depository over break. That was fun, except for the equivalent number of people to spring break assignments. If there were maybe a thousand fewer people, it would have been great. And, I hate pushy people.

I went to the land of milk, allen wrenches, and honey (aka IKEA) over break, too. I got a coffee table, a down comforter (made from 100% blue-footed booby) and two lights for 120 bucks. Sweet action.

Then, for the grand finale, I went to the Atlanta airport, and Sarah's mom' house by way of the emergency room on Saturday. She ended up spraining her knee, ankle, and foot, and getting a hairline fracture in her tibia (that's one of the lower leg bones for you Grey's Anatomy peeps.) At least she was in Jamaica when it happened.
Usually when I go to bed at 5 am, I'm intoxicated or studying. Well, I guess either way I'm intoxicated. But this time, I was just still awake. They need to put a bar in ER waiting rooms, people would be in better moods.

So, that was break. Time to get back to work.

I want that..

2006-03-06T09:52:00.000-05:00

That was a Napoleon Dynamite quote, if you don't know that.

What I want is, a new VW. Ah yes, the fine people at Volkswagen, the brain-child of Hitler, the Fashaland, if you want, have come up with a marketing campaign so great, you'll want one too. "Grab the Shtick and Let's Schlalam".

If you don't laugh, check yourself into a place to fix your sense of humor. Shake what your Motherland gave you.

What I got, was a futon. Last night, I ventured out to Wally-world and picked up a fine specimen of Chinese mass production. I put it together in about as much time as it took Qin Shi Huangdi (if that is, indeed, his real name) to put together the Great Wall of China. It's pretty. And comfortable. So, if you're in the neighborhood, stop by and sit a spell. You'll be glad you did.

I'll try to write more this week. Like about my experiences with Cupcake (not the gay kind, a manly cupcake) and his thug-life friends at a H.S. I sectionalized on Saturday. Or how Peter Griffin has gone nuts and is going to kill, and possibly consume (by that, I mean physically eat, all of us). Be afraid, be very afraid.

highlights

2006-02-28T12:05:00.000-05:00

3 1/2 hour GA brass rehearsal last night.
Colin threw his music.
"Dance Monkey, Dance."
we had pizza. so it wasn't a total loss.

Listen to NPR tonight at 8 to hear the stunning results!

"Like oragami?" "Want to know what folding sounds like on the radio?"Hear folding live on the radio! "GA Brass, tonight at 8!"

"Want to know what excesive pressure does to sound waves?" "Listen to GA Brass, tonight at 8, on NPR."

For those who missed it

2006-02-22T12:16:00.000-05:00

It's that time of the semester. Fred decides that it's "go" time for GA Brass. Rehearsal last night for 3 + hours, sectional on Saturday, rehearsal on Monday for probably 3 hours and a Tuesday night "live to radio" concert. Wee.. Also, Roy Poper (insert all pooper jokes and Roy Rogers jokes here), will be here this week to give master classes and lessons. I think I have to go to classes too.

The maestro had some good quotes in trumpet seminar today too. Like...

"Who has the list? Who has the list? WHO HAS THE LIST?"

Fred: "It's gonna cost 24 dollars for a lesson."
Colin: "I thought you said 25."
Fred: "I did." (pause) "What did I say?"
Colin: "24."
Fred: "Oh."

After a cornet solo: "It was nearly pretty good."

"Herbert L. Clarke was in Huntsville- but that's another story. It takes about an hour."

"The ballet was orchestrated by this guy- he was about this tall- mean little bugger."

"There's a famous story from when Jameson played with Paul LaVelle at the World's Fair in... what was it... 1802?"

K. That's it for now. Keep it real.

Where have all the cowboys gone?

Silly Brett

2006-02-18T10:23:00.000-05:00

Due to the fact that there are misguided people out there who think Kenny Loggins looks like Huey Lewis, here is a short montage of Kenny's in the Music Business I know about...

This is Kenny Loggins:
Well, that is how Kenny Loggins dreams anyhow... This is really Kenny Loggins:

This is Kenny Rogers:

This is a Kenny Rogers impersonator:

I looked for a Kenny Loggins impersonator and got this:

Here is Kenny Chesney:

He makes all that money, but he can't afford a shirt with sleeves. Spends too much on his hats and gym memberships I guess.

I'd look for a Kenny Chesney impersonator, but I don't want to give google that satisfaction. Or Kenny Chesney, for that matter.

This is Kenny:

This is the other Kenny I'd like to see killed on a weekly basis:

The other musical Kenny I know is Kenny Garrett. He's too cool for this blog, so you can go see him yourself.

That is all. Go in peace to love and serve Kenny Loggins.

"This is it!"

2006-02-17T10:32:00.000-05:00

(that's Huey Lewis, by the way, for those of you who may not know. He also sang the "this is it" song in the 80s)

I got my student loan check yesterday. (cue the Bugs Bunny "We're in the Money") Now I can go to China! I know loans are bad, but they feel so good. Uh, what I mean is, I won't get to go to China again for 1600 bucks.

I had a good lesson today, but I need to work on my ornamentation of Baroque music. there's always something...

You know that feeling when things are going great, and you feel like you're on your "A" game, but you have a sinking feeling like you forgot something and its gonna bite you in the ass?

yeah. that sucks.

weekend, on your marks... get set.... buh-bye

Happy V Day

2006-02-14T11:31:00.000-05:00

If you're into that. If not, come back here tonight. We'll leave the light on for you...

Where to Begin

2006-02-13T12:19:00.000-05:00

So, it's been a couple of days since last posting. I could discuss my opinion on the Danish/Muslim cartoon thing, best described here and here. I guess my best advice in any situation like this is that everyone needs to do this. Maybe we should buy like 5 billion of these shirts and distribute to everyone who needs it.

I could talk about the Olympics, and the glorious expressions of culture, athleticism and pageantry that is the modern winter Olympics. Or I could talk about snowboarding and the weird-ass uniforms these people wear. Look at every other event, and you'll see something like this:

Streamlined, aerodynamic, built for power and speed.

Then there are the freestyle snowboarders:

Baggy-assed, complete with iPod pockets, built for hiding your stash from IOC officials. Wicked-rad.

I will, instead, discuss the happenings of yesterday about noon. Sarah and I were eating a late breakfast at the iHop, when all of a sudden, everyone freaked out. Why? Because, and I quote, "It's SNOWING!!!" Let me preface this by saying that I am, in fact, from the North. It does snow copious amounts in the winter. My parents, for example, got 14 inches of snow yesterday. But, let me also say that for the past six years I have lived in warm weather places. The amount of "snow" that caused an entire restaurant filled with about 60 people to stop eating, taking orders, talking, cooking, washing dishes, and pooping was about one flurry flake every five seconds. no kidding. It "snowed" for about 3 minutes like this, and you would have thought that Santa was about to squeeze his fat ass down the IHOP chimney. Ridiculous.

K. That's it for today. Don't forget to get out there and buy your flowers and chocolate in case you're snowed in tomorrow.

Some Things I Learned Tonight

2006-02-09T00:13:00.000-05:00

1. I should always trust my first answer in trivia. Emmitt Smith DOES have the 2nd highest number of Super Bowl touchdowns. Sean Connery was a body builder before becoming an actor.

2. Never trust someone who is leaving with a trivia answer. No, jackass, The NFC West does not have the most Super Bowl victories. But, Brad and I figured out the NFC East does. Too bad we trust the "expert." idiot.

3. There are people in the world named Ezra.

4. I am better than Ezra.

4a. In trivia.

5. I am also better in trivia than google.

6. The people who judge best team name at Blind Pig are mentally retarded. See here for details.

7. Hot wings are still hot 3 hours later.

8.All the "official theoretical" terms in my Post-Tonal Theory book sound like Depeche Mode song titles.

9. If you want to see the wierdest cat face since you tried to microwave fluffy when you were six, check this out.

10. I'm tired.

Submission?

2006-02-07T14:08:00.000-05:00

Or subversion? I caved. I'm on facebook. If I can't destroy it from the outside, I'll venture into the Matrix to try to destroy it from within.

Prepare for a drop in grades, school work, light of day , activity.

Plug me in.

Bradstradamus

2006-02-05T22:21:00.000-05:00

First of all, congratulations to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Your Super Bowl XL winners.

Secondly, on January 21st, Brad prophetically depicted that I could only avoid facebook for so long. I feel like the fortress of St. Michael in the Siege of Malta. Sarah was my fortress of St. Elmo. After fiercely defending herself, she has fallen to the onslaught of facebook. I feel that it is now only a matter of time. Is it so bad? I don't know.
..the light grows dim. The rations nearly gone. How long will this siege last? Is it better to surrender now and live, however bleak and pointless that life may be, or to hold out and wither away in this winter that has befallen me?

I'm buying Haines from now on

2006-02-03T10:44:00.000-05:00

Tagless. All the way. Oh well, can't avoid it when Gunner calls you out. Here is the list. respect.

4 Jobs I've had:
- Graduate assistant at 3 Universities
- Professional Salsa band trumpet player
- Trumpet playa at Hersheypark
- Trumpet player in a mariachi band

4 Movies I can watch over and over:

- Star Wars (all of them)
- Indiana Jones (all of them)
- Blazing Saddles
- Tombstone

4 Places I've lived:

-Harrisburg, PA
-Tucson, AZ
-Miami, FL
-Athens, GA

4 TV shows I rather like:

-Simpsons
-Family Guy
-Mythbusters
-CSI Miami

4 highly regarded and recommended TV shows that I've never watched a single minute of:

-Cribs
-Punk'd
-General Hospital
-24

4 Places I've vacationed:

-Paris (yes, the real one) (in France)
-Dinny Whirled
-Key West
-Grand Canyon

4 of my Favorite dishes:

-NY Strip- medium. From this place.
- Lobster and steaned clams-. yum.
-Merguez with couscous
- Scotch

4 Sites I visit daily:

-msnbc (don't get political with me about this site does this and is right or left or any of that. I'm just lazy, and it's easy for me to type msnbc. The world blows up on the bbc, Fox news, or jimmy bob's nuuz line all the same.)

-Everyone's blog. yes everyone
-Cigar Aficionado
-espn

4 places I would rather be right now:

-Hot Tub
-Bahamas
-On a cruise
-Anywhere- I'm at school.

-4 Bloggers I'm tagging:

-Man, I ain't your mom. Do your thing. Don't. I don't care. Damn! Quit bugging me.

Sleeping with the fishes..

2006-01-30T10:25:00.000-05:00

So here's the rundown on Saturday...
We leave Athens on Saturday at 1pm. UGA splurged big time on our transportation. A short trip across campus ?? later, we arrived at the Aquarium... Kind of. We arrived at 2:45, and had until 4 to, um, uh, do nothing. "I know.. Let's go into the aquarium, and look at the fish." Oh wait, they won't let us into the aquarium. There were two windows available to look at the aquatic life through. One was in the ballroom- which was pretty cool. The beluga whales were right there, watching us play. Then the hallway had a window into the whale shark tank. These guys were amazing. Even for whale sharks. They had mad skillz. Here is a picture of one. The people are not me. The shark is, however, one of the whale sharks. He's bigger than that now. Either that or those people are HUGE. sweet.

Following our dress rehearsal at 4, we went to GA State on our sweet ride. We went to GA State to have dinner. At 4:30. As we were eating our turkey wrappz and chips (I know, gourmet shit) we were told the bus would be back at 5:15 and we needed to be in schmucksedos. Fantastic. 20 minutes to eat and change. We hurried back to the aquarium to rush around so we could... NOT PLAY TILL 7:45! Whew! We almost didn't make it back in time to be absolutely bored out of our minds for about 2 hours. What do musicians do when they're at a nice function with rich people and free apps and drinks and 2 hours to kill? They put their instruments on stage and sneak into the pre-dinner reception. Some beverages later, we got to play. For nobody. Well, there were probably 200 people in the room at the time, but since there was no announcement that we were playing, they kept talking and not listening. I think the beluga whales were listening, but that's about it. Wow. This gig's getting better and better. We finished up about 8:30. We went outside to get on the crappy b.. Oh, great. No bus! 15 minutes and about 400 obscenities later, the bus showed up. We got back to Athens about 10 and went to Jimmy Johns. Because a 9 hour gig and a turkey wrap just don't f'ing cut it.
To review:
3 1/2 hours on a campus bus: never getting that time back
6 hours of sitting around: same
1 turkey wrap and a bag of chips: probably cost them 3 dollars
20 minutes to eat and change: no reason
3 free drinks: wow.
2 windows to see the aquarium: what is that? Like 3 1/2 hours per window?
1 Jimmy John's sangwich: 7 bucks.
Shit.

In other news, I got the parakeets on Friday. The green one is sitting on my finger already. Well, not right now. I'm at school. I'm a bird whisperer. Been whispering to my bird for years. ha.

New Friends

2006-01-25T11:07:00.000-05:00

So, after talking to my parents, who recently acquired some new friends, and doing some extensive research online, I've decided to get a parakeet or 2.

I found a cage on ebay and actually won it for about a third of the normal cost. I take this to be a good sign. Sarah and I went to the pet coalition yesterday to look at some winged ferrets. She likes the idea, and so there will be two parakeets living in the discounted cage. Sarah tells me that she likes the name Lilly for her bird. OK, fine, whatever. Lilly the bird it is. So, what do I name mine? Some early picks are:
Parker (as in Charlie "bird" Parker)
Diz (as in Bird and Diz)
Swoop (Eagles mascot)
Stewie
Bart
Homer
Nosferatu

If you especially enjoy any of these names, let me know. If you can think of others, let me know that too. It will be an open ballot, and votes will be counted. An official announcement as to the new pet's name will be announced when I actually get the damned thing.
That's about it for today. Playing a gig at the aqua-arium this Saturday with this guy. They won't let us in the aquarium though. Wonder why?

Should've seen it coming...

2006-01-23T11:15:00.000-05:00

Fish’s neighbors hug (play rugby) after a meeting Sunday night, at which residents shared memories of Fish and prayed. (Emily Anne Crawford - The Red & Black)

So, who is not surprised? Alcohol-related death. A freshman. (named fish) All tasteless jokes aside, I wonder how many of these people in the hall mourning his death were encouraging him to have another drink the night before. Idiots.

"Our greatest fear at the University has been realized" was a quote in the paper. Well, you can't stop someone from drinking if they want to bad enough. You can only hope that this is an example for other people to be responsible. I wonder how many of these people in the hall will raise a glass or bottle to the memory of Lewis this weekend. Idiots. I just don't understand the seemingly uncontrollable necessity to "party" all the time. Maybe this was just a mistake. One too many. Just a party that got a little out of hand. Well, whatever the case, it sucks.

Dead. This kid is dead. Like, not coming back. ever. For what? To fit in? To "have a good time" ?

Sorry if it seems a little hypocritical. "But Chris, you drink. You hang out with people who drink." I have no problem with responsible drinking. Know your limits, and if you don't know them, don't try to empty five-points bottle shop in one night. Hopefully, some good will come out of this. I can only hope.

Some things I've learned today

2006-01-22T15:56:00.000-05:00

1) No one is safe. The internet allows anyone, even bored band people to find out everything about you. Sorry Criag. Don't cry. You might rust. Stupid note-dropping cyborg..

2) Osama sent a new tape with offerings of a truce.

3) There are pink dolphins. really. They don't know why they're pink, but they are. Go to Hong Kong and you may see one in the Sea of China. Or two.

4) It only costs about $2,500 to go diving with Great White Sharks. I can drop a toaster in the bathtub and die for free, but I think I'd rather fork up the dough and get on the news if the worst happens.
5) Chuck Norris is better than you. Or me, even. See for yourself. (thanks Kit)

6) JanFest will happen whether you want it to or not.

7) It will be over in two hours.

8) I like that.

You're Not??!?!?

2006-01-21T11:32:00.000-05:00

Is usually the response I get when I tell people I'm not on facebook. I don't know why I feel like I'm in confession or telling someone I just ran over their cat when I tell them this, but you just feel guilty. I'm not making a political statement, or taking a technological stand, I just don't need to spend an additional hour a day in the romper-room of facebook. This is another reason I'm not on facebook.
I obviously can't be on facebook now. My mom is there. Speaking about mom, let's talk about yours for a minute. If you don't have time to fully explore the inner reachings of this site, let me give you the highlights. (I always thought the cover said "fun with a porpoise"- I guess that's a different kind of publication) Anyhow.. here are some of the best of the worst:

I saw your mom on channel 7, and when I changed to channel 25 you could still see her ass sticking out
Your Mom is so fat that the horse on her polo shirt is real.
Your mom's breath is so bad every time she coughs her teeth duck.
Your Mom is on my porch barking
What sexual position causes the ugliest kids? Ask your mom
Your Mom's legs are so normal that they have no comedic value whatsoever
Your Mom's so old I told her to act her own age, and she died
Your Mom is so slutty, she got more clap than an auditorium.
Your mom is so stupid she declared war on Iraq without a UN resolution.
Your Mom is so stupid she attached 16 Mb of RAM into the 4916 PORT instead of her motherboard
Your Mom is so stupid, she got fired from a blowjob!
Your Mom's so stupid she put out the cigarette butt that was heating your house.

So- yeah. Your mom!

In other news, Dave played a damn fine troombone soolo last night. It was mooving, it was musical, it was the best I've heard a troombone soound in years. All I coould say was Ooooooo.oo.