The sports world has been pretty crazy lately with MLB in full swing, NHL and NBA playoffs, and the KY Derby.  Great games and performances everywhere.  My Red Legs are currently sharing a lead for the NL central which is quite delicious.  A lot of game 7′s lately which is exciting.  On the homefront, GMU’s baseball team is still rolling over teams as the catcher has been nominated for NCAA catcher and player of the year.  Can’t wait for Puerto Rico!!!!

Many of you know about the problems I’ve been facing lately and I appreciate everyone’s support.  I have resorted to applying for credits cards as a very temporary solution.  Got a lot to take care of and nothing seems to be lining up the way I’d like it.  Hopefully I emerge from this fire unscathed and stronger.  Time to play some Kanye methinks.

I’m moving out of my apartment and everything has to be into storage before I leave for Indianapolis.  It’s something I do every now and then I guess.  The funny thing is that I have no clue where I’m living when I return to fairfax.  In fact, I don’t even know if I’ll even be enrolled in school.  Too bad money doesn’t grow on trees.

I have a twitter account now so I can provide updates while I’m on tour.  Look me up…. Sir Don VII

Well I’m heading out soon to see Angels & Demons with some friends.  Should be pretty awesome.

Quote/ Scripture Of The Day

Work it harder make it better,
do it faster makes us stronger,
more than ever, never over,
Our work here is never over

-Kanye West

Anywho….

Life has been crazy, and I know I sound like a broken record, but it really has been that crazy.  Got finals this week.  :/ I hope I’m able to prioritize my time and commitments to make it work.  Starting some more strenuous workouts this week in preparation for move-in (Blue Stars) on the 22nd.  And at the end of the week is a test session for one of my students.  She is only testing one dance, so it should go well.

On a side rant, I really miss the old days.  And I mean that in 3 ways.  The first being the good ol times in Wauseon, second being the later 3 years of high school in Northern Kentucky, and the third being freshman year of college here in Fairfax.  Its been very interesting to see how everyone has grown up and/or changed.  The and/or in that statement is important because there are a few of my friends that have remained mostly unchanged.  I like to think that they found themselves at an earlier age and have been able to just be chill during these years of change.  I feel like I’m somewhere in between. …..

Well, the violinist just finished and the choir is about to invade the backstage area.  ttfn

Quote/ Scripture of the Day

They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.

Andy Warhol

Well here I am.  Its about 2 am….. this is not how I planned today.  Would have rather been with my buddies, but whatever.  Crap comes up and it’s completely understandable.  Instead I spent the early part of the evening on my own at home playing NcAA March Madness as always.  Probably should’ve started organizing my room, but whatevs.  The later part of the night was spent at Anita’s partying it up with some peeps.  Good times all in all.  Hitting golf balls at 1am is always a blast if you ask me.

This whole time I’ve been trying to distract myself from today.  Most of you have no idea what makes today significant for me, and thats great.  I find myself asking why, why am I trying to hide from this.  It seems silly and immature, but okay at the same time.  I really need to keep my faith with me at all times to help out during these harder days.  The conventional cop-outs just don’t cut it.  I still end up thinking about crap and losing sleep over it just as I would before.

This week hs been quite interesting to sy the least.  And it seems like there is only more of the interesting type to follow.  I have been under a ton of stress lately, and have dalt with most of it in the right way.  The smaller percentage is kind of wearing on me though.  This is getting to be far too long a post and it is far too late.  Gotta teach in the morning too.

tut tut, looks like rain…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pdNHZ2VydM&feature=related

Quote/ Scripture Of The Day

Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a teardrop.

-Anonymous

Quick side note… I just looked at my “purchased” playlist on my itunes and found that I have recently purchased two songs by Sigur Ros, a band from Iceland.  I’m glad I’ve stumbled upon this because they are awesome!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWMDfJEkQDs

So yeah, Im VERY tired.  Had a long day which just ended after playing in the pit for the chorale’s broadway concert.  It was pretty good for sight reading the music during the concert.

The Reds are 6-5….thats above .500, so I’m happy.  Unfortunately my Columbus Bluejackets are down 3 games against Detroit in their first ever playoff appearance.

I’ve been in a moody blues mode of late… Nights in White Satin (full version with the Late Lament)  Golden!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lazdg-eqmQ

Ok, I’m def going to bed now.

Quote/ Scripture Of The Day

Breathe deep the gathering gloom,
Watch lights fade from every room.
Bedsitter people look back and lament,
Another day’s useless energy spent.
Impassioned lovers wrestle as one,
Lonely man cries for love and has none.
New mother picks up and suckles her son,
Senior citizens wish they were young.

-The Moody Blues

I know, I haven’t posted in like 10 days.  I has been a busy person.  I’ve been writing music history papers on Luther and the Reformation, practicing, doing some 12 tone studying, and performing in concerts.  I hit the driving range for the first time in a few months and drove my first shot 300 yards straight ahead.  No joke.

I actually turned in my MHS paper on time thanks to 2 all nighters in a row.  The orchestra concert was alright.  As always, it was nice to have my parents come out for it.

So I was at Auld Shebeen last night with a bunch of friends to watch Mike’s DMB tibute band.  Really good times there.  It’s too bad 2 of my friends couldn’t get in.  It was great to see the people who were there.  Met some new friends and hung out with others for the first time.

I woke up at 2 today, whoops!  Oh well.  Gary came over and we shot some hoops (both real and virtual).  Then I went to see Slumdog Millionare with Amanda followed by food time at Denny’s.  Good times.

Time for bed.  Pretty excited about tomorrow.  One of the best days of the year.

Frank’s new hair looks horrible by the way.

Quote/ Scripture Of The Day

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1 Peter 1:3

My problem is that I’m going through baskeball withdrawl.  My solution is playing NCAA March Madness before I go to bed.

Mason is going to the Puerto Rico Tip Off Tourney next year…ftw.

This have been purty good lately.  Still busy as ever with the school schtuff. I have been helping with the Mason Colorguard, which has been a lot of fun.  They left for Dayton this morning and I wanted to go with them.  Sad Panda Face

..,,,,see guys, I don’t have much to talk about.  I is lame.

Quote/ Scripture Of The Day

It’s too big a world to be in competition with everyone. The only person who I have to be better than is myself.
Colonel Potter from MASH

So its been a while (cue Staind) … Life has continued on and for whatever reason I haven’t felt like blogging until now.  College basketball has been fun and interesting.  My bracket sux compared to last year.  Actually watching the Davidson vs. St. Marys’s NIT game now.

Classes have been getting tough.  Sight singing and ear training is getting better though.  Hope to pull off a strong B in that class.  Theory is really tough because we are starting the 12 tone row matricies and such.  I’ll be happy with a C+ in there.  And then there’s music history I… gotta listening quiz tomorrow….*gets up and brews pot of coffee to aid studying*… ok, that should help.  Gonna start the MHS paper tomorrow after I finish with rehearsals.  Hoping for a C+ in that class as well.

My playing on the trombone is coming along.  Had a couple of good lessons and practice sessions in the past couple weeks.

The Colony is coming down the home stretch towards approval for phase II.  We visited Shenandoah yesterday, which was a blast.  Mainly because of the post Shenandoah shenanigans. Love those guys.

Work has been going pretty well lately.  Had a test session with two of my students up in Maryland Saturday morning and had some good lessons earlier this evening.  Which brings me to my next topic.  So I had an amazing night teaching my youngins in Woodbridge.  I board the red van and make my way home.  Listened to some great music putting me in an even better mood. THEN, Don decides to put on the one song in the world that will 100% of the time result in tears.  Don’t ask me why I did it because I have no clue.  Its crazy because of the high I went from to the emotional 6 minutes that followed.  Im SO confused.

…and on a similar note, I have decided to give up my searching for special females.  Its just not in the cards right now and i’m crazy busy with school, work, and drum corps.

Its time to get uber active.  Daily running goes into effect on Wed. morning.  Trying to actually skate today made me realize how badly out of shape I am.  Its business time, and I got my business socks on….if only that were true….wah wah…hehe.

ttfn

Quote/ Scripture Of The Day

When you close your doors, and make darkness within, remember never to say that you are alone, for you are not alone; nay, God is within, and your genius is within. And what need have they of light to see what you are doing?

Epictetus

3/13/09  March Camp Day 1
Well, its been a while since I last posted….my apologies.  Life has been good for the most part.  Went to the mens and womens CAA tourneys which is always fun.  The men lost to VCU in the finals and the women lost a close game to UNCW in the first round.  Everyone at Mason is hoping for a possible home NIT game.
I spent some time with Lauren on Tue …. Ughhh……JK!  That was fun.  As expected, we ended up going to Firehouse and such.
I caught the first flight out of Dulles for nky.  Thanks to Vincent for taking me at 5 am.  I arrived home and without dropping a beat, had to help my dad and brother move a fridge and freezer out of a U-Haul.  My family has been working all week to bring my grandmother up from her home in Arkansas.  Then I passed out for way too long.  I set my alarm for 10, but woke up at 1:45…booo.  So I spent the next 2 hours running around nky before finally leaving for Indy at 4:30.  The drive up was kind of nice being that I tailed a couple of speed demons on I-74.  Made sweet time!
Cue Blue Stars Camp!
We started with a brief corps meeting and then got to work in the horn arc.   Had a fun “show and tell” session for everyone to show how hard he or she did or didn’t work between camps.  That was interesting as always and I’ll add that I didn’t do too bad playing solo in front of the entire horn line.
JP just turned off the lights so I’m gonna call it a night.  We’re putting drill on the field tomorrow! Wooooot

Quote/ Scripture Of The Day
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and he will make your path straight.”

3/14/09 March Camp Day 2
To say that I’m tired would be the understatement of the century.  Although, camp has seemingly proceeded quite quickly.  We started the day with some cardio and stretching.  I really need to start running more.  Anyways, the horn line worked on some music and then we broke for lunch.  Now comes the fun part.  We had visual block from 1:15-5:15.  The first hour was fundamentals and then it was time to start learning drill.  Shaaawing!  Holy crap is the drill hard.  I’m talking end of last years Cadets show hard.  Its gonna be sweet though.  I just need to get in shape.  : /
Then it was time for some meatloaf.  Not bad, not bad at all… The horn line broke up into sectionals and we worked some of the new music, which was pretty dang sweet.  We actually have a phrase written in our parts entitled the “Loudest Moment in DCI”…mhm : )
Well, that’s it for todays recap…Looking forward to getting back to the Fax to see some friends and get the ball rolling with a few things.

Quote/ Scripture Of The Day
“The only thing I’ll ever ask of you is, you gotta promise not to stop when I say when”
Everlong- Foo Fighters

3/15/09 End of March Camp
Well, today was cool.  Blue Stars camp finished this afternoon with a rousing full ensemble session.  We have half of the show music memorized and about 20-25 sets on the field.  I think that’s pretty awesome considering its not even Easter yet.  My brother finally showed up to camp for the last 3 hours.  He was being a slacker at the womens Div II NCAA tourney.
Speaking of my brother…. He totally ruined what could have been an awesome car ride home from camp.  It was beautiful outside and perfect for a drive, then he had to start arguing with me about college basketball.  I’ll start this rant by stating that my brother goes to Northern Kentucky University.  For those of you who don’t know, that’s a Div. II school in conference that has no recognizable name.  Now, my brother was trying to convince me that George Mason was bad this year and his NKU Norsemen would destroy Mason head to head.  I’m pretty sure he was high because that is the most ludicrous statement ever.  He claims that any team with ten wins in any division or conference automatically sucks.  Hmmmm, lets see…. Ohio State easily made it into the NCAA tourney this year with 10 losses.  Hmmm …. I mean sure, Mason didn’t have the best year, but no one expected them to be anywhere close to as good as we were.  In no way does their 10 losses constitute them as a BAD team.  My brothers Division II comfort is blurring his mind methinks.
Well, we arrived home in nky and then my brother, my dad, and I went to visit my grandmother at her new apartment.  My parents had just moved her up from Arkansas.  The move has been long overdue and her deteriorating health has made it a more urgent issue.  Going to see her was nice.  My grandmother hasn’t exactly been “nice” to my mom, brother, and I over the years.  But, I can see that in her aging, shes become more caring and appreciative of her family.  It really made her happy that I stopped by to visit while I was in town and I felt an actual connection to her for the first time ever.
Then it was time for another episode of the Adventures Donald Trump and Steve-o.  I called up Steve and we met at Applebees for a beer.  Mind you, this was the first time I’ve seen him since before he turned 21.  So it wasn’t a big deal, but I still enjoyed me being able to by him a drink.  Then we drove over to the White Castles for some mozzarella sticks and sweet tea.  Yumm.
Oklahoma better not lose early…
And Mason plays @ Penn St. in the NIT first round at 8 pm Tuesday night on ESPNU.

Quote/ Scripture Of The Day
“My life has a superb cast, but I can’t figure out the plot.”
-http://vi.sualize.us/view/1606665dc7a11bcb627c130ba840cd3c/

I am up way too late.  Whats new?

Well today wasn’t half bad.  I had sight singing this morning, which wasn’t bad.  Then helped sell donuts for the Colony.  Thanks to everyone that supported us!  Then I ate VP’s lunch which was delicious.  And then it was time for teaching.  The drive there was great.  As I noted on my facebook, it was a beautiful sunny day.  I had the windows down and blasted awesome music.

Had some fun/interesting/confusing conversations online tonight.  Pretty much one of each.  Too bad no one wanted to come out and play.

Oh yeah, I got a few hairs cut.  Its pretty dang short now.

la di da di da

Quote/ Scripture Of The Day

Some dance to remember, some dance to forget

Hotel California-Eagles

Man guys, I beat the crap out of today.  It had the makings of being a horrible busy day.  I did well on my sight singing test, had my listening quiz postponed, ate at Southside, didn’t have wind symphony rehearsal, and got an A on my law presentation.  Don wins.

Although, im not winning in one certain category right now.  We’ll see about that.  It would be a nice change thats for sure.

Anyone else sick of the pile of negativity in the music dept.  It seems like people dont even know what being kind/friendly means.  I thought music was supposed to make us happy.  Its too bad some people have lost sight of that.

CAA tourney this weekend…should be a blast.

Quote/ Scripture Of The Day

“All you need is love”

-The Beatles