I Found

...a video of our marching band this past season. It's only the last half of the show, and yes, I'm posting several months late, but this is state finals after all, and I'm quite glad to have found it. Thanks to whomever took and posted this!

It's Musical Season

We fumble blindly down a set of concrete steps in the darkness, emerging in a low-ceilinged room with the feel of a disused basement (which it undoubtedly is). Occupying the majority of the space is a makeshift sort of plywood stage. Everyone gingerly navigates the steps up. The platform is covered in a rather musty-looking carpet and a tangle of cords and wires. The only light comes from the opening in the ceiling, around which chairs and music stands are tightly clustered. This is pit orchestra, and once again the height of musical season approaches. We're here to play.

Up on stage someone is tap dancing. A gentle shower of sawdust drifts down from the stage floor overhead. Moments later a stampede of chorus members thunders over our heads. The sound system isn't quite coordinated yet- sometimes we can't hear what's happening upstairs, and they can't hear us. It's okay though. This is merely a rehearsal, and although opening night is tomorrow, this counts as being on schedule.

Typically, I audition to join the cast. The lure of bright lights of the stage, the energy, the freedom of unrestrained singing, and the pure satisfaction of giving it your all right in front of a live audience is strong. It's still something I would enjoy doing, but recently I've been finding the backseat, more out-of-view supporting role just as appealing. Playing in the pit has been, in a different way, an experience just as satisfactory.

From outward appearances, I seem to devote more time and energy to vocal music. It's easier, it feels, to fake experience at singing than at playing an instrument. But I was an instrumentalist before a vocalist, and deep down, if I had to choose, I would not give up my longer-standing skill. It often feels that many are divided along an unspoken line, in which those who play instruments are dry, distant bores and those who sing are fluff-headed, flighty creatures. Few are those who belong to both camps. I, who have been part of both, have gained a respect for both. More people ought to give the other a second chance.

Heat Wave

We're currently sitting in the middle of a nice mass of warm air. The temperature topped 50°F yesterday, and that qualifies as a heat wave. An unseasonably warm day in February, for us non-equatorial norther-hemisphere dwellers, feels exceedingly pleasant. Most of the snow has melted; the massive plowed mountains, the kind built up in parking lots, are now small car-sized piles. Grass is once again visible. It's trampled, yellowish grass, but grass nontheless. There's mud everywhere, and the sound of running water. Even the river has started to thaw a little near the middle. This morning, an opaque fog shrouded everything. It's like spring come several months early. 

All this is very well, but it's also slightly worrying. The number of unseasonably warm days has been increasing recently, as well as record high temperatures and more extreme weather- this past winter has been harsher and had come earlier. It's frustrating to see that a number of people don't realize what even small seasonal shifts mean. Human biological patterns may not be directly or noticeably affected, but many other species are. If one population collapses, it leads to others- its competitors, its predators or prey- undergoing other, often unfavourable changes. That's not too good for us either.

Skywatch No. 8

As you may have noticed, the majority of my photos all seem to be the same place. And admittedly, it is. (I'd like to compile a 365-day journal someday, taking daily pictures out this window.) It's unintentional, really. Where there's a large west-facing window, count on me to use it. I'm a sucker for sunsets. This view usually offers better results than trudging outside in the freezing cold. When the leaves come in I'll have to stop being lazy and actually go out to get my sunsets...

Brr.

Will you look at that. Blue sky and sun! It's a beautiful thing. Funny coming from me- I usually find cold more comfortable than hot and darkness more interesting than bright day- but it's something of a relief. The unseasonable cold is here to stay though; mornings and nights are often in the Fahrenheit negatives. 

It's felt like a long winter, but we are... only about a third of the way through (Ranzenblog has a nice pick-me-up regarding this very thought). School has been keeping me busy and I've been starting to look forward to seeing the end of end of the tunnel, so to speak. And so we march resolutely on.

Food for Thought

...or maybe more for the eye.

Pomegranate. A classic winter fruit. The hassle involved in preparation pays off- it's not only filled with all manners of vitamins, antioxidants, and other good stuff, but it also tastes fabulous.

Fresh beans, anyone? Sounds unappealing, perhaps, but terminology and connotations can be misleading.

Skywatch No. 6

Here's another one of those photos I snap from the window of a car as it barrels down the freeway. This one dates back a few months, but I still love this cloudscape.

Inauguration Day

It's been a momentous day. It has ushered in a new president, a new future. History was written on this day. What was needed to be said has already been said; I will not trouble hacking out my own (mimicked) copy of flowery words. 

Today I spent my lunch break huddled around a television set with about thirty other people, and watched the news. The inaugural ceremony, with the air of a holiday? This should happen every day.

Later I again attempted to watch the inaugural proceedings in the company of two different groups of people. Let me say to the first- thank you. All attention was on what was happening. I have never seen so many people my age so engaged with affairs of state, all at the same time. It was rather amazing.

The second room was a different story. I don't have a problem with people acting like imbeciles. We all do sometimes. But it would be awfully kind of them to carry on somewhere else, so we can hear the news. It's a little shocking to see how little some know and care about one of the most significant events in the recent history of our country.

Grey Mornings

As routines are established, the beginning of every day starts feeling the same. From the moment I drag myself from bed (after several rounds of hitting snooze) to the time I am actually awake (which may not happen until the afternoon or evening), everything just feels... well, rather bland. This is a shot of the street sometime in the early morning, I believe. Each weekday, I head to class. Not too interesting. It is bitterly cold, the roads are covered with all manner of snow, slush, and ice (though not in this picture- must have been a good day), the sun has not yet risen, and the town looks deserted, except the traffic is still ridiculous. A change of season wouldn't be bad at all. 

Late Wishes and a Newcomer

It's more than a little late, but I have not yet bid you all a happy new year. So here it is, and there you go. Frequent updates I cannot guarantee until my schedule eases up.

Meanwhile, allow me to introduce my new comrade, my good friend. This is Phil.

He's been here nearly a month and has been of good service. Unfortunately however, poor Bob, the desktop, is not running like he used to. What this means is that I am doing a crapload of backing up, though admittedly mostly onto flash drives. When everything is sorted out, I promise you, there WILL be updates. 

Thanks for listening, everyone.