Friday, October 31, 2014

the past week or so

quite a bit has been afoot lately on the drake campus.  here is a short overview.
someone threatened campus through seemingly anonymous ways.  these avenues of course turned out to not be as anonymous as was hoped.  he was caught.  there's your equal and opposite reaction.  everything has repercussions.  
i participated in something called paracticathon.  an all night practice party in the fine arts center.  quite a ride.  red bull abounded.  as did music.  i did not get back to my room until 6:30ish.  then i slept two hours and went to church on sunday morning.  
i worked out for the first time in my college career.  it felt good.  it helped that they had tvs.  burning those calories is much easier while watching big bang theory. 
i got to see a lovely group known as johnnyswim.  for free!  yes, my friends are pretty cool.  especially when they can get me in to see johnnyswim for free, and get me a poster.  
i worked out again.  actually a couple more times.  maybe this will turn into some sort of a regular thing.  me.  healthiness.  
i went on an adventure.  and by that, i mean i took the bus to downtown des moines with a friend and visited a pub and got proper (iowa) fish and chips.  munis the beverages.  it was, nevertheless, an experience.  
the power went out all across campus.  pretty surprising at first.  i decided to play a mini cello concert in the lobby of my powerless residence hall.  and the power came back soon after. 
i fasted for a day.  no food for a day.  it was a spiritual exercise.  a good one.
at the cafĂ© were i broke my fast, i, and those who were with me, witnessed the death of a squirrel.  r.i.p. little fella.  

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

sightreading highlights

yesterday the drake symphony orchestra read through beethoven's seventh symphony. . . for the first time.  it did not go too well.  what follows are some of the most memorable moments that ensued.  (this is, of course, from the perspective of the cello section.)

the orchestra begins playing.  the conductor stops everyone, then informs us that the piece is in a major.  if half the ensemble is playing c natural and the other half is playing c sharp, the result is not a pretty one, and is defiantly not beethoven.

my stand partner informs me that i have been playing a bow stroke incorrectly for most of the piece.  oops.

at a key moment in the first movement, someone in the bass or trumpet section says in a loud stage whisper: "dammit!"

before we read through the second movement, i tell my stand partner that it is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written.
after we read through it, the conductor states that it was supposed to be one of the most beautiful pieces ever written.

before we go through the third movement, the conductor informs everyone about the repeats we will be taking.  as soon as we start playing, half the orchestra misses the first repeat.

the conductor confesses to us that "this used be my favorite."  we can only assume this is due to how well the rehearsal was going.

the hour was ended with a hearty encouragement for everyone to go and practice their part.  for the sake of beethoven, i hope everyone does so.  

Thursday, October 2, 2014

free stuff

college students like free things.  people like free things.  i like free things.
so when i receive the text "i have leftover pad thai if u want it" i get very excited.  i not only enjoy pad thai a lot, i really enjoy not paying for it.
making something free is a great incentive.  that's why every organization that is looking for members offers something for free.  and, if it's food.  i usually take it.
i've received many free things in my life.  many of which i do not deserve.  I even enjoyed the pad thai with a pair of bamboo chopsticks my aunt gave me as a graduation gift.
free stuff.
food isn't the only item that's free on campus.  advice is plentiful as well.  advice on almost anything. advice from people who have experience.  it is great.
but if i ever mention free things, it always makes me think of the most important free gift i've received.  grace.  god's forgiveness.  a god loved me so much that he would give his son to save me.  i may not have deserved the free pad thai, but i definitely did not deserve salvation from an all powerful god.
so i attempt to be grateful for everything i receive.