pippicblues

Physical Science

2006-09-19T05:35:48Z

I'm taking beginning Physical science. It's great! The teacher is a born again, ex military, conservative, boy scout leading, bad joke telling lecturer who does not want to take up our time by handing back papers in class, but will take the time to go over his expectations and the steps needed to complete an assignment that was already due and he has to return to us. Believe it or not, that's not my problem with the class. My problem is that the whole first section of the class is basic astronomy. One month of observing the movement of the moon doesn't sound bad. Except if you live in southern california, land of cement, where on a clear night the sky is a purplish color and the only "stars" you can see are airplanes!! And let's discuss the first step in the process. Go outside at night and find an open space away from buildings and trees in relative darkness. First off, an open space is not relastic. Places void of builds are parks, parkinglots and in the middle of the freeway or streets. Streets and freeways are not overly safe to stand in the middle of for any length of time, and parks are city beautification spots with lots of trees. Parking lots are okay for space but all of these above are wonderously lit by street lights. Yay safety!

pippicblues @ 2006-09-12T18:51:00

2006-09-13T02:08:17Z

School started two weeks ago, which means I need to create some structure in my life so I can be sucessful in school and actually complete my work. I really wasn't happy to be going back. Almost all of those I entered with and considered friends graduated and I'm not graduating in December like I hoped. The first two weeks of school sent me reeling with problems of school beraucracy. And then I had a moment of pure happiness. It was amazing, the gods smiled, the metaphysical clouds opened up above me and let in the sun. I really wouldn't mind if we had some actual clouds here but that is besides the point. This one moment that made everything worthwhile was taking out my bass clarinet for the first rehearsal of the semester. So simple. Life is good. Through all the crap gets piled on, life is good.

I've noticed something living in SoCal. Almost everything that is naturally green has a undertone of brown. This bothers me. More than any other color it reminds me of decay and dying. Yet brown can be rich, nuturing, living, vibrant color.

sorry

2006-04-03T06:23:41Z

sorry it won't let me put up pictures

clarinet

2006-04-03T06:14:16Z

for those who don't know, i don't play clarinet. I play bass clarinet. THough you wouldn't think so there is a huge difference. BUT you can't major on bass clarinet. So five years ago when this little senior in high school auditioned on bass and was accepted on clarinet I was frustrated but euphoric. they let me into a music department to study an instrument I couln't play! Flash forward to now, how far have i come? i think of that every time i have a crappy lesson or practice session. 1 i am no longer in fear of the instrument (sounds strange, but true) 2. i sound decent 3. i'm finally at a place where i can learn to play the stupid instrument. i have also learned to love it and think it is very beautiful. love hate relationship completely. i still play bass in two performance groups and i sound horrible the next time i play regualr afterwards. I am completely digressing. back to point my weekend. I had a lesson thursday and i've been working on the same MOVEMENT for the whole semester, it's still not right. not even the movement, the first 32 measures. my assignment this weekendwas to get some semplance of technique. So i got to do measured trill on various notes. See the picture i put up, four pages of that. At best I sound good and at other moments like a clowns horn. After lots of that all weekend, i can now play the beginning of the piece through once correct. YAY ME!! Just wanted to share that sound with you a clowns horn being pressed repeatedly very quickly. or imagine a small child stepping on it again and again.

oh the piece i'm working on if your interested in Sonata for Clarinet and Piano Op. 167 by Saint Saens

clarinet

2006-04-03T06:11:57Z

Reno smells bad

2006-03-20T03:58:05Z

So I think that yesterday I said that Reno smells bad and thats about it. Well that is very true, when you add that to the stale smoke in casinos, it's not pleasant at all. So the whole trip lasted only four days wednesday through saturday. We played in Bakersfield, a town outside sacramento and finally Reno. We worked through four or five movies. I can honestly say I don't think I have ever played that many games within that short timeframe before. Five new card games, plus a couple old ones and board games. I even shot and killed aliens in an arcade for a while. The great thing about trips like this is you meet people in the group that you barely know or have never met. When we went over the mountains we played in the snow. We went, we're back and i'm so happy to see my bed and cat again.

pippicblues @ 2006-03-14T11:23:00

2006-03-14T19:33:05Z

My lovely job is driving me up the wall! We just got the script ready for the easter play, created it especially for the older kids (junior high). First problem, all the parents planned a camping trip for that weekend- so we move the play to a different date. Next problem, only the younger kids, mostly third grade want to do the play. So now we have a play from the wrong age group and have to create a new one. The parents also would like easter service moved back later so the day is more leisurely for families. AARG! The adult church choir is singing for good friday and easter. I was supposed to have about 10 people, instead three. one who has sung in a choir and the other two haven't. I heard what happened to three others, basically flaked. So as I know my choir is 5/6 women and one never sung in a choir before male. Three of the women don't believe they need to lower themselves to coming to rehearsals, just give them the music. I'm likely to have others who don't believe in coming to rehearsals but think they can perform. I am so glad the weekend is over and i'm back in school. This week I'm going on tour to Reno with one of my school performing groups, that should be interesting.

pippicblues @ 2005-06-03T15:12:00

2005-06-03T22:19:52Z

School just ending about a week ago, and I have much to look forward to. I thought it might be nice to start writing in this before I forget about it. I've already started summer school, good news, we get snacks each day. Even though I'm not going to camp it seems I still get to spend some of my summer living out of a suitcase. I'm moving, but have no place to move to yet. to complicate matters, I'm out of town when I need to move. Chaos is slowing settling itself around my house.