Simplicity

So classes are going pretty well, but that's not the inspiration for this post today.

No, today it comes from Wind Symphony. I've been doing quite a bit of work with music in the last 3 or 4 months and I'm really happy that its starting to pay off. For one, I've been recreating some Zelda music to play in a horn quartet and I have 3 of the pieces done that I want to have for a horn medley. I hope to have songs like:

-Ocean Theme (Windwaker)
-Zelda's Awakening (Windwaker)
-Ballad of the Goddess (Skyward Sword)
-Departure (Windwaker)
-Windmill Hut (Ocarina of Time)
-Midna's Theme (Twilight Princess)
-Temple of Time (Ocarina of Time)
-Zelda II song (Zelda II)

And include them all together into a horn quartet medley to be performed towards the end of the semester. Hopefully I can get it done... But its a huge undertaking.

Also, towards the end of last semester I approached our director with an offering of music to play. As the nerd I am (if you couldn't tell from above) I asked if she would take a look at Fountain of Dreams from the Kirby series. The reply was that it was too simple for our ensemble to play, but that another song may be able to fit the part. Today I received an email with a site full of music and a question about One Winged Angel (Final Fantasy VII) by Nobuo Uematsu.

That's a win. An awesome win.

Now to get that done!

Going full circle

Hooray! I know I'm a few days late on this, but my blog has made it a full year with me actually updating! How odd. I don't really see it as something that a whole ton of people read, but its still a place for me to share some thoughts about my life and just have them out there. The implications of this kind of blog are interesting though... If you think about it, I'm writing all of this personal information in a public reading space. Honestly I don't mind though. I don't put anything TOO personal in here (I don't think...) but I'm sure if I did my mom would call and tell me (yes I know she reads this often). As for this post, I should really try to sum up my first week of school now that the "blogaversary" has been properly celebrated.

Classes this semester are great. I've got a much more balanced schedule in terms of the actual scheduling (time) of the classes and the credit/time ratio. Last semester I was taking 8 classes for 15 credits and this semester I'm taking 6 classes for 14 credits. See a better work load there? My favorite thing though is easily the fact that none of my classes start before 11:30am or end later than 6pm. I get to work and sleep this semester! The classes themselves are awesome too. I have 2 computer science classes, 2 English classes (bleh), and 2 music ensembles. It's looking like a bright semester.

Work this semester will be a little different too. We had to say our goodbyes to Kristine as she moved away to another building while we happily welcomed Ruby to the Skarland team. My admin job for the building also changed which I'm a little sad about (in a joking way). I can't call myself "The Keeper of the Keys" anymore.... Now I'm just the guy checking the work order request lists and processing those. It's not a bad gig, but I have yet to assign myself a pompous title yet... So I'm having a little less fun with it. But only for now I promise!

Here's a couple other fun work facts. I had the first Skarland situation this semester and, on an unrelated note, I got to drive a bus! Since I can actually talk about the second one, I'll do that. So I signed up for 2 shifts of the Nanook Express which is basically an airport shuttle for students that Residence Life puts on as a service to students. I think its awesome personally. But back to the important part, they let me drive a bus. Through a town. To the airport. To pick people up and drive back through a town. How awesome is that??? I was pretty stoked and honestly it was one of the funniest things I think I've ever done.

My bus. It was awesome.

Here's another thing that has become a point of interest to me. By now I'm sure everyone who's going to read this has heard of it, but I'd just like to put on the record that I oppose the SOPA/PIPA legislative pieces. Rather than babble about it I'd advise you to look it up for yourself, but its pretty terrible and I hope nothing like that ever manages to pass... Ever.

Last but not least, I'm doing the unthinkable tomorrow. I'm..... COOKING. In my house for about as long as I can remember I've been a notoriously crappy cook. Baking isn't so much of a problem, but when sustenance is on the docket everything seems to crash and burn. Last time I tried to make the dish I'll be preparing tomorrow night my chicken was frozen on the inside, the lettuce of the salad wasn't cut through all the way, and the pasta was permanently bent and hardened at 90 degree angles... But, like the fool I occasionally am, I'm trying again. I even bought a full 18 piece cookware set at the store today so I can make it! Considering the fact that a pretty girl will be eating this food as well, I really hope I don't watch my meal crash and burn again... Here's to hoping that whatever minute culinary prowess I have decides to work for me!

FOOD FOR THE FOOD GOD!

A strange Muppet fetish

So today I finished my first day of the Spring 2012 training for my RA position. It was a long day, but luckily I like this training MUCH more than the training in the Fall. For some reason it seems a little faster paced, a little less boring, and a little more kind. Now we get to wake up by 10 instead of 8! That's a huge improvement for a night owl like myself. Although there is something odd about training....

Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, is Muppets.

You may be wondering "What does that even mean???" Well, it means that our schedules are based on Muppets. Our new door decs from Res Life are Muppets. Our pens have Muppets taped to them. Our notebooks have Muppets taped to them. Our presentations have Muppet-themed pictures. Our plates for meals even have Muppet designs. EVERYTHING IS MUPPETS. As Jamie put it "We will shove Muppets down your throat!" What has caused this is still a mystery to me, but at least its entertaining.

Plus, this time around, training is only 5 days instead of 2 weeks and we already know quite a lot of material, so its more laid back than it was before. Here's for hoping I manage to survive round two of training. Don't worry, its not that bad.

As for the past few days I've just been relaxing in Fairbanks and I finally got to go skiing when it warmed up to 20 from -30 for just a day before getting cold.

Now to sleep for another 11 hour day of training tomorrow.