THE END:
Friday, April 23 @ 2.17pm.
CEDAR 148.

JURY: OVER

LIFE: BEGINNING....now.

My hope is in the Lord who has renewed my strength
when everything seems senseless my hope is still in Him
who has made heaven and earth
and things seen and unseen
Whatever shade of passing day my hope is still in Him.

I am going to Oregon next week, to visit my friend Luke. It's a 9 hour drive. And I can do it alone. But I'm kind of looking for a road-trip buddy. Just in case any of ya'll are interested.

COMMENT!

the end....

I decided not to go to camp this summer, for good reason, and definitely after much time spent asking God about it.
So, I'm fine with that. City summer, could be awesome...there are definitely some people here who I look forward to spending time with.

I had a few camp friends who were going to be staying home as well, and I was so stoked about that. They're good friends too, awesome people, and I was so excited at the prospect of hanging out with them. Still would be. Except...they're not staying home anymore.

Aiiya.

I can't even blame them, I mean...who would stay here...when you can be up there? It's beautiful, the night sky is incredible, you get to spend your summer OUTSIDE, with friends, working, but really, it's chill. And there's the faith aspect too, when it all works together, it can be really uplifting.

It's my God, you know, he's just pushing me to trust him more and more. Who knows? Maybe I'll meet a guy this summer who I never would have met, had I been way. Maybe I'll get other incredible opportunities, in ministry, in friendship, or with school and music...things that never would have happened while I was at camp. I actually have a lot of hope in my heart that this summer will be amazing. Seeing prayer answered in the real world context.

NOT HAVING THE BUBBLE TALK...that will be good.

I'm just so sentimental. And when you're in that state of mind, nothing bad filters through. I only remember the good, love-filled, stars and sunset times. The long conversations, hikes in the forest, drinking tea at sunrise (okay...I've never done that), but swimming, tanning, chilling on the field...

Problem is, I think a lot of it is sentiment. A lot of it is remembering the great traditions, but forgetting the Spirit who still moves today. Forgetting that he sometimes does new things. Forgetting that all the great memories in the world don't change a life forever. But meeting the eternal God does.

Anyway, I'll probably spend a few nights crying, missing what has been, wondering what is happening up at camp. And no doubt, I'll go and visit. But I think there's a lesson in continuity, in perserverence, in trust. I'm excited to be here. I'll miss the ones up there. But really...it's only 8 weeks.

If you see me in July and August, bring on the lovin', though. I'll be missing that the most.

Okay folks, that's 6 down, 1 to go. After my jury (@ 2pm on Friday), I will be finished first year, well on my way towards a Bachelor of Music.

*sighs*

Feels pretty good, I'd say.

I know that there's a lot of work ahead of me next year, a lot of polishing, striving for excellence, not goodness. It will require more committment than I ever imagined, so once September hits, I'll be back in hermit mode. But don't worry. I'll make time for YOU, and if you need me...be not afraid to call.

Next week, I look forward to some time with my American friends, and after that...a summer of:
1. FUN (avec mes amis, et ma famille).
2. WORK (to make the money for school!)
3. MUSIC
4. SUNSHINE
5. RENEWAL

Pass the sunblock, mix the tapes, load up the gear...it's time...for....SUMMER!!!!!!

Tonight, en route to asap, I learned the words for Faure's "En Priere".
Beautiful song.

On the way home, I was thinking about some different things, and somehow got wondering about infidelity.
I was wondering about married perons who have affairs, and when their marriages break up, marry the person they were cheating with! That seems strange to me. Granted, I don't get relationships...but I would have assumed that the affair was more about sex than anything else, so...what's there to build a new marriage on?
Or maybe the cheater really wasn't into the marriage at all, and hence the affair was really a new, truly intimate relationship.

I don't know.
Kind of a touchy subject, I guess, but one that knocks me down sometimes. Some of the most amazing families I know have been wrecked by infidelity.

A puzzlement.

and one more thing.

I TOTALLY SCHOOLED MY EXAM.

YEEEEEEEEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

I TOOK IT TO SCHOOL.

BEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!

this is latin. i will sing it at my jury. friday.
here:
quia respexit humilitatem
ancillae suae:
ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent.

so it boils down to...

What does that mean, "it all boils down to...[blank]."?

I guess...when you boil something, it's going to eventually reach it's simplest state. I guess.

But ummm....my Music History final is tomorrow. The Renaissance! The Reformation and COUNTER-Reformation!

One thing I'll say about the Renaissance: SUCH beautiful music. Consonant harmonies...the kind that ring in your ears like spring air...oh my goodness.
Just lovely.
My favourite is playing...now.

Orlando di Lasso's "Tristis est anima mea". A Respond written for Maundy Thursday.

OOOOOOH!!!

THose Haloscan ads, found @ the bottom of the comment sections!

You know what I mean?

Yeah. THe one for Bibb's revenge...totally opens infinite Internet Explorers when you try to close it!

NO GOOD.

Music students explain antecedent...GO!

Part 2.
"antecedent dolce collarbone acton resent coy asplenium blurt pessimist alienate torque watercourse ask chimpanzee gore picture forlorn utterance hairpin myosin camouflage cubic bibliography centric chen inconsistent opaque else temptress riyadh gentry carton coon traverse "

best jun-mail title EVER.

why everyone needs a digital camera...or maybe just me.

Today, as I was driving on the #1 to Coquitlam, I saw a head of me...a stream of toilet paper.

WHAT!?

YEs, it's true. A flatbed truck carrying 3 port-a-potties was driving along, with toilet paper flying out of the potty nearest the rear of the truck.

I was LAUGHING...and then I was disappointed.

1. NO CAMERA!!! That would be been...MONEY!
2. nobody else in my car. Funny things are funnier with a friend.

Driving home thoughts, part 1.

I was thinking as I drove home today...and here are some of those thoughts.

I communicate a lot through physical touch/contact. Be it hand-holding, or hugging, or linking arms, or just putting my hand on someone's arm while I'm talking to them...One way I communicate is by touch.

It can also be called a "love language". Those are ways in which you receive, and usually give, love. I think there are four or six all together...six, probably. My primary ones are physical touch, words (so things that are said or written), quality time, and gifts.

Touch is so important to me though. It's a huge part of how I communicate. When I first meet a group of people, like when I started school this year, and I don't yet have friends who I know well enough to hug, I feel SO lonely. I mean, in the most comfortable of situations, I have friends who I can totally walk up to and hug, or snuggle with for few minutes...meh, it's just how I work.

But tonight, for example...no hugs. I was with a friend of mine...we go to concerts together and hang out and stuff like that...but he's totally different, as far as I can tell, in terms of touch. When I'm just with him, I totally feel strange...like I have to hold back those natural tendencies to make physical contact.

I started thinking about all this after he got out of my car...and that was it. Just..."bye". Totally like hearing all of a beautiful song...except the closing note. The experience has been awesome, but suddenly.....

you feel unsettled.

I feel unsettled.

I need a hug. A good, solid, rib-crushing hug. *sighs*

need to goooooooo!

Tonight, I went to the symphony. As I was driving home, I realized...
I HAVE GO TO PEE!!!

But really, with capitals and everything, I HAD TO GO PEE!!!

But...all the gas stations were closed.
And it was midnight...so I didn't want to wake any of my friends (on the way home)...so I just drove, and went when I got here.

BUT...one of the roads I drove on was so bumpy...I held myself up off the seat with my left leg, otherwise...danger.

YEp.

In connection to my job searching post, a cartoon!

the album: Guns, Cars & Sitars
the song: Punjabis, Pimps & Players
the follow-up: Bombay the Hard Way, Vol 2: Electric Vindaloo
the tune: Sexy Mother Fakir

All this thrown together with "Fear of a Brown Planet", and you've got the brilliance of east meets west....

And me, laughing out loud in my computer room.

(thanks aaron)

note: asinine means "extremely stupid or foolish."

There are definitely some things that I know I don't suck at. For instance, I know I can sing, and I can sing well, because of both training, and natural talent. I know that.
I also know that I can read, without much difficulty. I'm not sure what asinine means (although, I will look it up post-haste), but most of the time, I understand what I read. Not only that, but I love reading. This morning, for example, I woke up and read a few essays out of a book my english teacher gave me, before listening to the Vinyl Cafe. (Which was particularily amusing this morning, just in case you were wondering).
I've also tried my hand at writing a few times, most recently for academic credit, and I'm pretty good at that too. Some would say I have a way with...ah yes, words.
I took dance lessons for a long time, so I have decent rhythm, and I can whirl an Irish reel or jig with the best of them.
However, I am not so good at applying for jobs. My palms get sweaty, my words awkward, and incoherent. I'm sure I tremble with fear when I ask, "C-c-c-annnn I d-drop off-ff-ff a r-r-r-r-ee-e-sume?"
AIIIYA!!!
And yet, I am a more than capable potential employee! I've worked in the sweetest of jobs (a bakery), the crappiest of jobs (a crack hotel), and the most draining of jobs (a daycare). I have excellent "people skills", I love to help others, I greet customers with a smile; I am amicable, polite, conscientious, and knowledgeable.
WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO HIRE ME!??!!!
*sighs*
And yet, as I pass out the resumes, I get only a smattering of interviews, and usually they aren't successful. Strangely enough, it's always the jobs my parents tell me about that end up working out, as was the case with both the bakery, and the ymca.
So if you see a "we're HIRING" sign in a store window, give me a comment. Because I will surely apply, albeit with much fear and trembling.

My friend Bryce has had to interview people for the place where he works. He told me interviewers are just as nervous as interviewees, because they are trying to find the perfect fit for their team. Perhaps my next cover letter should read:
"Dear possible employer,
I know that I would be an excellent employee in your store. I will probably seem nervous when we meet, but don't take that too seriously. It's a difficult thing, applying for work. Please don't reject my application just because I'm a full-time student, and can't work all winter. Surely you've been a student too, and know how important it is to have work when you need it, and time to study when you need that too. Let's interview soon--I'd love to meet you and find out what this possible new-to-me workplace is all about. Sincerely, Melinda."

essay....

essay...is....DONE!
(offically @ 1.16am. Woot. I get up @ 6.45am. wooooot :S).

push button publishing...for the people

Two years ago I was camping in the lushness of North Queensland's rain forest, on a property calling Wuringha.
I had blazing ear infections, and I was camping (with 100 close friends) in a mouldy hay field.
NO toilets, minimal running water, lots of rain, and NO DOOR ON MY TENT.
=
recipe for a crappy time.

BUT...I was on my dts, and Mark Parker was speaking. As he spoke, God crept more and more into my heart, and then EXPLODED into my life with power, grace, forgiveness, and glory. And while I wrestled with ants at night, I somehow found rest in being the child of a loving Father.
In 5 days I celebrate the 2nd anniversary of my baptism.
On Saturday, I celebrate 8 years of living committed to Christ.

Sometimes though, I miss the friends who live in California, Michigan, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Texas, Oregan, Washington, and Missourri.

But it's all good. A little break in the heart makes you stronger.

Tonight, a friend of mine came to see "the tomb" with me @ nsa (a church).
It's an easter play, where the main character is Joseph of Aramathea, a member of the sanhedrin, in whose tomb Jesus was buried.
Cool story and point of view, but it was...well, it was a church production. Good. Community Theatre-esque.

Anyway, when I dropped her off @ home, she said, "someday I'll have to make you come with me into my element..."
That's cool, and fair...and then I was thinking, "hmm...."
What if....well, are we willing to do that? Step into other people's comfort zones the way we expect them to come so willingly into ours?

There was something else that I was thinking about on the way home...and I wanted to tell you about it.
But now I can't remember what it was.
Oh well.

It was good, fo sho...but umm...you'll just have to wait a while longer to hear it.

Oh, question: if you've seen the passion, what do you think of it? Why did you go see it?
And if you haven't seen it, why not? What do you think of it?

HMmm...

Jelly Belly jelly beans are so great.
Especially the mixed ones. They add excitement to your life with each bean!
Unless you get the one that sort of tastes like soap...

blech.

ode to the marmots

The marmots
they attacked at every opportunity
they stole my voice and sanity
they spat on discipline
and scoffed at rules
fuel for arguments and discussions
their cabin housed an atomic stench
(a mouldy pair of nikes proved the culprit)
rather skate than sweep
they ran amuck
for two weeks we battled
nose to nose
and with their named imprinted on the island
they left in their wake a gust of sighs
thank goodness for boys
who else would stir the pot
and send matter flying into fans?

Resist the urge to take offense, because at the base of this I am amused.

It's a difficult time, financially. Tuition's up, movies cost more, so does food and clothing. I understand being broke.

I have saved money for shows and concerts and movies, turning down other offers in order to go with the one I really wanted. If a friend's choir or orchestra or concert band was performing, I'd make plans to go. I'm happy to show support and patronage of my friends and their art.

But apparently choirs are out. The invite to come see Brahm's Reqieum by the Cap College choir has been met with, "ooh...I...umm....good luck with that."

I understand, I do. Classical music isn't everyone's thing, and $15 is kind of steep for a performance you aren't really stoked on. But still I wish there were just one who would take the plunge. Maybe then you'd understand why I haven't been around.

[props to the ash and the andwer who came and listened/napped their way through Gloria and Magnificat at Christmas. and to all who came out to the Sound of Music. Your support and cheering doesn't go unnoticed].

GEORGI!!!
WHERE WERE YOU!!!?!!!
I SANG MY BEST FOR YOU!!!
[pa-rum-pum-pum-pum]
MY MANY FANS CHEERED ME ON
AND SHOWERED ME WITH ROSES.
[translation: my classmates were there, and some of them were eating lunch while they listened].

okay. peace out.

question: if you nap mid-day, do you find that you are hungry when you wake up?

annoying!

So I'm sitting in the library, studying. Buddy anonymous (not necessarily of commentary fame) comes back from his coffee break and sits next to me. Stinks of smoke and coffee...annoying #1.

Whatever, that's fine...it's life. Let's get to work. Okay, so, okay, so, okay...Okay. So...okay. [Georgi is bounding up the stairs as I type...cool girl]. The anon. guy fixes his jacket, takes a sip of coffee, taps his pencil twice on the desk, shuffles his papers.......and then adjusts his jacket, takes a sip of coffee, taps his pencil twice on the desk, looks at his assigment...and then adjusts his jacket, takes a sip of coffee,.....ONLY THIS TIME he tapped his pencil for a minute [argh!], and then took OFF his jacket, fixed his shirt, drank coffee...

ARGH!!!

It was very annoying, so I got up and left, and came here to post about it. Now I will go to my car, and then english.

Good bye.

That last post got cut short, but i'm not sure how to finish it.

Other than to say that the church is full of people who are trying to serve God, and it gets messed up when we serve him with the programs and rules and time limits that we come up with. When we take over from him, rather than just being still...sometimes I think we're afraid of what will happen if we're really vulnerable before God, so we rush around and set our churches up so there isn't really time for him to do anything to crazy or to speak into any part of our lives where there's pain...

where we need to be healed.

The message this morning was on Isaiah 52:12 through chapter 53. I'd suggest reading it.

To have a Messiah who knows suffering, his own and mine, is...it's what we need, and what we'd sooner hide away.

A people called to victory by their own death and brokenness--not the best-selling slogan in the world, eh?

it was...a morning of [reluctant] praise.

I just woke up from a 3-hour nap. I always feel really hot when I wake up from a mid-afternoon nap. But SOOOooooo good.

This morning @ U.Chapel was good. It's strange, because I loved it when I was a kid [we used to go in the summers when my dad had time off], and it retains for me a nostalgic sense of summer breezes, freedom, sandcastles, and sunshine. All the weightless joys of July and August and bare foot adventures.

It's different now, with some years in my bones, and some grasp of church politics in my brain.

Computer keyboards are sweet. Don't want to type 2 separate quotation marks? No problem! Here they are, ", both on the SAME button!

Wow...

Gee golly, that's swell!

In other news, I'll be @ U.Chapel this weekend, soaking up the Wildings and Dave Ward.

Mhmmmmm!!! I am SO excited!!!

DisturBinG...

Did you ever wonder if the person who was your "teacher" actually didn't know very much at all, and because of his or her pride and not wanting to admit their lack of knowledge, you, the "student", were being royally screwed over, ripped off, and possibly damaged in the process?

Cuz, you know, I've never felt that way. I just wondered if you ever had.

there are so many more html's to add, but I am too tired. So I am going to bed. Happy listening/weblogging/websurfing/eating cookies/whatever else you do.

gn'ite.

I HAVE FOUND JOEL! He is over there!!!

Joel Plaskett Emergency
I think that is the name of a band. I saw their video once when I was "working" @ the Portland. I liked it, but haven't really heard of them since. And now...they have a NEW album.

woot.

and with that, I offer you a link to melinda's tunes online @ newmusiccanada.com

Yes, that's right, all you happy bloggies. The one and only 'melinda the great' not only gets great marks, but posts music online too.

(okay, okay, maybe that joke is done, but just go check out the tune[s]. THey're good. And while you're @ new music canada, check out in medias res, hejira, Jonathan Inc., Maplewood Lane, No NO Nancy, and Raking BOmbs).

*Satisfied @ having fulfilled her quota of indie music plugs for the day, Melinda goes to bed where she will dream of....[see tomorrow's post]*

I have an ear training test today.

Pitch cells with Major and minor sixths and sevenths.

2 bars of 4/4 time, syncopated.

2 part melodic dication.

Plus the usual chord progressions, seventh chords and...whatever else it is we do.

If you pray, please do on my behalf...that my ears will hear!

SLEEP...NOW...GOOD. :D

(which reminds me, I must thank my school's library designers. The octagonal padded-bench section has served me for many a beautiful nap).

spite!

Just to sprinkle a little more controversy (or not)...
Today in Theory we marked Monday's in-class assignments, and I got 20/20!!!
YAY!!!

It was open-book...and I never understand how people get stuff wrong on those. I mean, you can LOOK UP THE ANSWERS!!!!

Anyway...that was a special blog for all my friends out there. Know your sequences.

Somewhere on yahoo.com, there is an ad which is so brilliant!
It's for travelling of some sort, but it uses pictures of the little gnome who travels the world in Amelie!!!!!!

GENIUS!!!

question: what is a 'normal' girl?

possible "answers": make-up, long hair w/high & low lights, shaved legs, skirts, dresses, pink, pretty bows and lace, silk, satin, everything nice, earrings (not too many), TEEN, COSMO, VANITY FAIR, sugar, flirt, spice, diet, exercise, just right.

thoughts: comment (now).

a discussion! with tea! and crumpets!

The Title.

Okay, well, Haaaaaaallo.
I wanted to address the comment left by your favourite blog reader, and mine, Anonymous!
*applause, cheering...stop*

He/She seems rather upset @ my quasi-frequent inclusion of my school marks in my blog posts.
Well, I certainly never thought it would be irritating. My apologies.
And the deal is this:

I've been out of school for 3 years, which, in terms of remembering how to learn and study et al. is a long time. I've had an incredible 3 years, and I'm really glad I waited to enter the post-secondary world.
That said, about this time last year I was SO nervous about applying @ Cap. Now I know it's pretty caj, but @ the time...woah. I hadn't had reason to sing competetively for some time, I didn't know anything about theory, I hadn't played piano in years, I could not tell a Major 7th from a minor 3rd for the life of me--in terms of being prepped for music school, I wasn't.

School in general. Yeeuuuccchhhhh. Stressed me out.

But, I got my references, I prepared my songs, sang my audition, took the theory placement test (thrice), and somehow, managed to scrape together enough musicianship to be "in". (Again, it may not be as hard as the auditioning process would seem to stipulate [words?]...).

SO, to be finding SUCCESS is both surprising and, at times, overwhelming. It's a huge confirmation that this is where I'm supposed to be, and that maybe, just maybe, I have some skills...it's encouraging. Amazing. Pretty neat-o.

Thus, Anonymous, is the reason why I post my grades, not because I am in grade 3. The other day when I got my history mark back, I was stunned. I hadn't a clue what the last song in the listening was after the 2nd playing of it, and we only get to hear each selection 3 times.

If you know me (?) I hope you can celebrate with me (hip-hip...hooray!!! [x3]), and if you don't...well, be glad to read the blog of a smart girl.

:D

yours truly,
Melinda
aka. Eli Cash FanCLub presidentia.

Ugh.

going to bed. YAY!

Just finished my history assignment...I hate bibliographies. So much of the grade lies in the affinity for perfection...and @ 1am, nobody is perfect.

just in

just in case some of you don't read ben's blog, here's a lil quotation from it...
"of Costume and Fashions: 1550-1920. Poole: Blandford Press, 1986."
OH wait. That's from my history paper.

Maybe just go see for yourself on ben's blog.

BUUUUUUUUuuugaa.

It's 2 am and I'm still awake....

that's what I was thinking this morning.

Ugh.

BUT I have stayed awake ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL day. No napping. Not even for a minute. Though, I can't guarantee that I was fully awake either.

90% on my history midterm #2, 15/15 on the listening portion.

Life is...pretty okay.

Hi Georgi.

FRUSTRATED like a tri-tone.

A'ight yo.
I've been here studying freakin' medieval and renaissance music for...well a couple hours. Okay, one and a half. A long time. I'm going home. The drive home = my break, for the day.

woot woot.

ANYWAY, while I've been here, STUDYING, these 4 girls were chattering away in...I think it was portugese. Maybe spanish...I could be crazy.
One of them was in transit the whole time; just walking around, moaning and whining, talking on her cell phone, the whining some more...so LOUD!!! ARGH!!!!!!!
It was pissing me off! Apparently it still is.

Hence, going home.

issues

I am having some very serious dermatological issues, and if anyone has a sure-fire cure, now would be a good time to hook it up.

Seriously folks, the one thing I'd spend...well, maybe not THE one thing, but definitely one thing that I'd spend money to be happy about is my skin.

And now...I'm going to bed. Today has been a day on the mats...fighting all the way.

nite.

It all comes to pieces

You'll remember, of course, the gentleman from my high school, who also goes to Cap? Well, on the weekend I was dismayed to discover his face on a Cap College Billboard, somewhere around Hastings & Clark. EVERYWHERE. I just saw him again, right before I came in here.

Weird.

Secondly, cell phones. It's fascinating to watch an otherwise shy person talking to their significant other, or just a good friend, on a cell phone. The body stance changes. The eyes become more focussed, and the gaze more confident. The cell phone, in effect, draws the shy one into a world where they are cared for and valued, their shyness having been won over by acceptance.
Bizarre.

Thirdly, according to Genesis, man has dominion over the earth and everything in it (Man as in Mankind, although the principle I'll soon blog can be applied in the man/woman relationship too). We are to govern over this 'earthdom' the same way God does over his Kingdom. Okay. So what does that mean?

Well, how does God rule over us? With a death grip? With his own interests superceding ours? NO! He is a King who loves to serve, whose every action is in the best interests of his people, his Kingdom. He serves in love, wanting to expand his reign, not for power, but for the fullness of life he knows those within his Kingdom will enjoy.

We don't rule like that. We rule to keep our cars well-fed, destroying the air. We rule to have our coffee and lattes just right, keeping half the world starving for food. We rule to separate the rich from the poor, with first class lounges, cars, homes, schools, and careers. We rule out of selfishness and greed, resentful when anyone dare suggest that what we do is wrong. We expand our kingdoms to the destruction of others, all for the glory of he or she who has the most toys.

But we all die empty-handed.

That's the kind of Monday it's been. G'day.

...

controversy

and then.

"And then there's your girlfriend. She opens her legs and gives your life meaning; is that what you love her for?"
- pedro the lion

Ah, the modern world is a wonderful beast. Thirty-eight minutes after the broadcast of the Oscars, I can go online and find out all the juicy gossip that I missed by not being there.

One never needs to leave home to find people, places, or things to scorn. The media is happy to think for us.

hoorah!

"...We wander the used-up cities of cement dreams and strip-mall seductions. This is where we live. But to us who are weary and broken, the God of redemption gives the plains, and a view of the land that we have yet to claim, yet to sow, yet to reap. here there is space, and a chance, to make all things new..."

-Caedmon's Call

working hard!

And here I am, trying to write the 1500 word essay that is due on Monday. The aim is to write about a songwriter whose work I admire, and to show, by an analysis of his/her writings, that there are interesting and lasting qualities to their lyrics.

My essay will probably be way too personal, but with this teacher you never know. Last semester I got an A+ for anecdotes.

So far all I've accomplished is much procrastination.

The essay will read : in medias res and their free dvd are at fault for the non-existence of this essay.

good-day.

insomnia

Insomnia's a pretty bizarre thing, eh? Your body needs sleep, and yet some part of it prevents itself from getting an adequate amount.

Scene from today:
Melinda walked out of the music building, and saw her friend Paul, so she went over to say hi. As they were talking about his philosophy of religion class, Melinda saw Jo across the courtyard, and waved. Jo came over. So Jo, Melinda, and Paul were talking. Nearby were Nick (from english) and (apparently) Shannon. As Nick got up to go, Shannon said, "Have you checked out in medias res yet? Do it! Inmediasres.com. You'll be hooked. (etc, etc...)".

Both Jo and Melinda turned, and looked at Nick walking away, then at Shannon, then at each other.

"In media---they're our friends. What's going on!?"

Shannon knows Ryan via someone else, and she heard Best Kept Secret the other night, and now it's in her head all the time...

The conversation turned to imr, and being a fan of your friends.

Then the amicable quartet divided, and set off to conquer the world, one imr fan at a time.

I am still pondering what it is about imr that blows the mind of the listener. When I figure it out, I'll mix it up, and sell it to you in a bottle, so you too can be all that I wanted.

another siting

I saw him AGAIN!!!

This time in my Mus. History building.

I got 88% on my midterm; not bad for 2 days of cramming. Next time, when I study like a mofo, it'll be even better.

The listening portion was a high point, which is excellent, given that part of being a musician is listening....

Tim and Joel didn't sleep much last night. Neither did Georgi. I ate lunch with them, and we sang together.

Maybe that's why today's been great...

Day 2 of the Curves diet plan...good times. I'm hungry for BREAD!!!

...Mmmm...bread...and butter...and cheese....mmmM...

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

What a great day.

I'm not sure why, though.

last night the Brits were on.

Music to listen to more of:
The Music
The Thrills
Jamie Cullum
Anne Winehouse
Groove Armada
Damien Rice
Stereophonics
Starsailor
Stars
Hem

That is all for now.

it's one of those days...

The sun is shining!
The air is crisp and cool!

REFRESHING!!!

That's right kids. It's day 1 of reading break. I slept in, I ate lunch with Ben, I went for a walk/run, I stretched.

Now I'm going to go dive into the world of music: practicing, reading, writing...

Yeegads!!! What fun!

WOOOOAAAAAAAH!!!

I ALMOST FORGOT!!!!
Guess who I saw today!?

no...

no, not him.

Justin?! Yeah right! He lives in another world...waaaay far away from the music building. Try again.

Dylan? Yeah, only for a sec.

Jo? Sadly, no.

Umm...okay, you aren't really very good at th--

YES!! YES!!! YOU GOT IT!!!

Sir Wax-a-lot!!! I saw him again. I think his name is Samir.
*shudders*
I hope I don't ever have to talk to him. High school was yucky. He wasn't really, just the whole experience. UNLESS he happens to see me, and is like, "Woah!!! You look SO GOOD!!!" or "woah!! You sing so good!!".

That'd be a'ight.

i am slowly...reading license plates.

The chord sitings for today are:
957 = 257 = V chord in 2nd inversion.
357 = iii chord in root position.
853= 135 = I chord in root position.
ACG = A7 (technically am7 b/c of natural C) with an omitted 5th.
173 = 137 = I7 chord with an omitted fifth.
946 = 246 = ii chord in root position.
4527 = V7 chord in 3rd inversion.
AND FINALLY...
151 = IVI = the foundational chord progression of western music.

I was testing my short term memory on the way home. I remembered the first 4, then I had to write them down when I found the other 4. I was tired, after all.

again!

license plate: 316 = vi chord in 2nd inversion.

why I am crazy

license plate: 683 = vi chord in root position.

Bet that post felt unresolved, hey?

Not unlike a tritone....left open...hanging...scorching your inner ear equilibrium like a hot poker, tempting you with it's ringing dissonances...

he's here!

There was this guy I graduated from high school with, and the only things I remember about him are 1) he liked a friend of mine, and 2) he waxed his eyebrows.

the waxing was a little odd.

Last week, I was pretty sure I saw him, but I thought, "naaah...why would he be here @ school?"

Then, today, in a flash of well groomed facial hair, I knew I'd been right. Once again, "Waxy" and I go to the same school.

okay...enough.

so, my brother is taller than me, his hair is thicker, and he's waaay better @ playing the bass.

and now, he has a girlfriend, and i am still single.

well, at least i know ALL about gregorian chant.

...

i came here to blog.

did you know that i have a title for each post, but for whatever reason (probably an html related one) they don't show up on the blog?

tonight i heard my brother play in the BCMEA (british columbia music educator's association) honour orchestra.

they were pretty good. especially the bass players :)

Umm...so, Valentines' Day. woot!
I'm...going out for dinner with Mikael...because...we like indian food. So we're gonna go get some of it. So if any of you want to come do that with us, just let me know. Especially if you are boys. Especially if you are boys who look like elves aka Legolas. But menfolk will do too.

:D

HILARITY: a return.

slowly...bu...t...surel...y

slowly but surely i am processing and synthesizing all that i've heard about ancient and medieval music.

really slowly.

my midterm is on tuesday.

but i do know this:
troping was the practice of adding either music, words, or words and music onto existing chants.
the countil of Trent (in 1312?) ummm...not outlawed, but something like that...all tropes except 4.
one of those 4 is dies irae, part of the requiem.

see? slowly...but...surely.

hallelujah!

IT'S NOT YET MIDNIGHT, AND I AM GOING TO BED!!!!!!


this is a very, very big deal. it could mean very, very good things.

like: gym in the am, awake all day to work/study/learn, and a healthier, happier me.


GOOD NIGHT ALL!! I REALLY WON'T SEE YOU AGAIN UNTIL TOMORROW!!!

decision time.

Okay, here's the deal.

It's time iether to sleep or study.

benefits of sleeping: i'll be alert when i study.

benefits of studying: i won't "waste" time sleeping, but my time will be poorly used, because studying takes me waaaay longer when i'm half asleep.

okay, to sleep it is.

it's just more efficient!

so don't mention it.

This week, if you have a show, I probably won't come to hear it.
If you're having a party, I won't likely be there.
If you're going out for drinks/dinner/good times, there's a good chance I won't be there.
I probably won't have seen the new episodes of anything.

Midterms are coming, and I'm several chapters behind in everything.
This is a week for discipline, study and sleep. And maybe the odd posting to let you know whether or not I'll ever be out again.

Here comes the sun, do do do do...

see you later.

I just took a personality quiz. I got 34.

The midget quiz master/farmers told me this means that:
Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

What is yours?
quiz by midgetfarm.com

what are heavy?
sea sand and sorrow.
what are brief?
today and tomorrow
what are frail?
spring blossoms and youth
what are deep?
the ocean and truth.

-rosetti.

I've been singing those words (as arranged by John Washburn) ALL WEEKEND!
Yes, that's right. The CapSingers hit up Vancouver Island for 4 days of fun, frivolity, music and hang overs.

OH goodness. What a rowdy, loveable bunch my choir mates be.

In avoidance of partying, I: hung out with Tim, watched Fresh Prince of Bel Air, slept, watched Old School (blech) and Pay It Forward (yes! I cried), and then slept. That was over 4 nights..

Goodness, I'm so tired and cold that my hands are numb.

(to Humpy: sorry for the lack of entertainment. I'll return to hilarity soon.)

praise the Lord, oh my soul

I feel your breath on my lips.
I see your beauty in a gentle mist.

How can I expect anything less?
You're the picture of loveliness.

Now your mercy is racing over me. I wish it Godspeed.

How great, how good, how awesome is your love.
How deep, how far, how vast is the sum of all you are.

How long, how much, how come you keep giving me, and giving me your love?

music can change your life. it can change the way you see the world.

so true.

i see chords spelled out in license plates.

for instance, this morning a plate read "2441". That's a ii7 chord in root position, with a doubled 3rd and omitted 5th.

life changing, i tell you. music is life changing.

*something is amiss*

hey folks.
i'm in the library here @ school, and my fingernails are blue (and not, may i say, because of nail polish).
no no, the reason for my tinted digits is this: IT IS FREEZING IN HERE!!!

I've been upstairs reading for 2 hours (my music history book takes some serious slogging through), and now...I feel as if I may die soon.

Or frrreeeze.

Seriously, my hands are shaking...I can hardly type...

what the heck. I'm outta here. Out to the warm tropical breezes of winter vancouver...outside.

ahhhh

AND NO!!! I DON'T WANT TO DOWNLOAD/BUY/WIN FOR FREE ANY STINKIN' CRAP STUPID PORN!!!!


AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!













sometimes, i really hate the internet.

'nuff said.

Music is so good.

spooning

i just ate a big, huge, sticky, delicious spoonful of nutella.

Mmmm...holland's gift to the world. right up there with tulips, but much better tasting.

my throat is a thick, gooey, chocolate mass of muck. i may never sing again.

if...

if you are @ school, and checking my blog, i'm in the library until asap.
probably napping near the octagon, or studying upstairs.

come and say

hi.

again

so here I am, @ school, having just finished a quasi-monumental theory "exam", I am doing important things in the library.

very important.
things.

any newblog postingsi should check out?

the space baron this keyboard getsstucksometimes.

can you tell?

I was just reading a friend's blog; she was talking about how many of the women she knows are amazing, and I found myself thinking, "Am I one such woman?".
Not to be too self-indulgent, understand, or to come asking for your compliments and assurances, but I wonder how it is I am seen.
I have a few friends right now, and our hearts seem to be one. Beating after Christ with the same determination and passion. It is good to worship and prayer with them, to feel myself come alive as words of praise, intercession and prophecy pour out of my lips.
Not to be too abstract, but that's when I feel alive!!! I don't believe God has anything less that the fullest life for me (John 10:10), but what does that look like? What is my role there? How am I to walk out each day? To speak, sing, play piano, read my textbooks, exercise, do my listening, sight-reading, bussing, driving, writing, talking, hanging out...keeping in touch, and letting go...how do I seek first His kingdom in the midst of that? Or over all of it...how does Matt.6:33 work itself out?

I'm not lost or defeated. Maybe moving a little slower. Taking a little longer. Healing a little deeper.

Sitting in silence where I would have jumped up to dance and sing; on my knees where I would have throw my hands up in praise. There is an intimacy in silence, with closed eyes and attentive mind, that I've never known through song and movement.

How I would love to have my day ordered in Lauds, Matins and Vespers.

Perhaps my hours contain more praise and reflection that I would first assume.

good night.

AHH!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

SCHOOL IS SO CRAZY!!!

BAAAAAAH!!!!!

i'm a jerk

i'm a jerk when i take the bus.
really.
i get so edgy and stressed, especially when being late for school would mean missing part of a test.
ARGH!

Seriously.
Not a great way to start the day.

how are you?

READ. AGAIN.

"The morning when I was making coffee I suddenly realised how boring musicians are. All our friends are musicians and we aren't interested in anything except music. We're stunted. Totally stunted. Like atheletes."

(Vikram Seth, An Equal Music).

[I thought that all of you needed to read this again, and then begin to laugh with abandon.]

today. the m.rock.

today my dad got me a new cell phone, discman and adaptor. I found them when I came home after an amazing time @ asap.

my friend scotty had one of the caedmon's call cd's that I had stolen, and he's letting me borrow it. WHAT A BLESSING!!!

also, I actually got some work done @ school. Hooray for 2nd week, 2nd semester! My work ethic is coming back.

and I saw the daring duo ryan & andwer. that was cool. And ... the coolest librarian whose name I can't spell. But she has a sweet mohawk.

Uh...okay. Bye.

remember

This is from the liner notes of a CD by Jason Upton. It's called 'Remember'. The CD is gone...it was one stolen from my car. I hope that wherever it ends up, someone is blessed by it. Especially if it gets back to me.

"I have tried my whole life to chase His Kingdom, hoping to be made righteious; only to find that nothing makes me holy (or whole) like the presence of my Father.

Because of that I am trying to learn to slow down long enough for Him to catch me. God could catch me if He watned; but He likes it when I wait for Him."

Wow, guys, this is getting really hard; trying to reconcile myself to being broken into.
If you could be praying for me, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

m.

reading about music.

"The morning when I was making coffee I suddenly realised how boring musicians are. All our friends are musicians and we aren't interested in anything except music. We're stunted. Totally stunted. Like atheletes."

(Vikram Seth, An Equal Music).

knowledge.

to be a real composer, you need to arrange the catholic mass and call one of your pieces claire de lune.

after then you're good to go.

p.s.

oh yes. for those of you who may have previously used my cellular telephone as primary mode of contact with me, be advised that it has been removed from my possession, and hence, I shall be unable to 1) answer it, or b) check the messages.

good day.

woot

hey ya'll.
it's monday again.
what a crazy week it's been.

up, up and away!

WAAAAAAAAAH!!!

SO GOOD! A MORNING!
Praise God from whom all BLESSINGS flow!

Most of my stuff has been FOUND!!!!

Lunchtime. Mmmm.

stuff i liked, but i'll be okay: my cool discman, and CD-to-car adaptor, CD's (Caedmon's call (2), Pedro (control- ha), in medias res, rufus wainwright (poses), john mayer (heavier), the wildings (w2...i think). and more.

wow.

i'm going to bed now. This is all a bit much. Blessings to you!

and peace.

Mmm.

melinda

where the Spirit of the Lord is...

What a strange end to a wonderful week.
My car's been broken into...wallet, purse, sleepover bag, discman, cell phone (so don't call it), CD's....gone.
most heart breaking: my Bible. I really like it.
2nd most heart breaking: my journal. a really turbulent, blessed year. And some wonderful words of encouragement from all of you. : )
3rd most heart breaking: new jason upton CD. beautiful music. i wanted to fall asleep to it tonight.

most financially butt kicking things: retainers & splint.

lots of work to cancel/recover: cell phone, bank and credit cards, birth certificate, SIN, driver's license, student card, other membership cards.

what i'm thankful for: the angels God has commanded to protect and minister to me. Lord, can I hear them sing tonight as I sleep? That would be so wonderful.

To be thankful for: Anna, and the 2 hours we spent praying together.
- my car is not gone.
- i am not hurt.
- God is still God. And He loves me.
- this happened at a time when I am so freshly covered in the annointing of the Holy Spirit. It is here, so near to God, that this attack can't touch me. Thank you, Abba, for your covering, your grace, your infinite love.

I love you Lord,
and I lift my voice to worship you,
O my soul, REJOICE!!!
Take JOY my King, in what you hear!
May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.

amen.

i always come.

i always come into the library and pretend that i have important things to do @ the computer, when really all i do is check my email and the blog circuit.

so.

woah
there's a guy over there ---> who doesn't really have a neck.

wow.

that post about friendship? i don't even know what happened there.

nutty.

i bet jo broke into my blog again.

okay i gotta hit the highway before it's CRAZY crowdereated.

thank goodness (?) for fast internet

hey.
i'm on a break from history, music history.
the history of music.
right now, music is coming from 'the early christian church'.
constantine just became pope/emperor of rome.

in byzantine, they had some sweet church music going on that everybody else copied.

chants are next.

woot.

the wind blows.

Did you ever have a friend who was all of a sudden awesome?
Or maybe not all of a sudden, but one day you realized that they'd become someone you really cared about, and who apparently cared about you, more than you thought?

That's always good. It's interesting how some friendships can explode with intensity on first contact, and others take time to be shaped and formed, but all those relationships are changing, growing, shifting and becoming new, or old, sometimes even forgotten.

And with that, "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it."

You are never alone.
You won't be forsaken or forgotten. There is a time when you can rest, and trust that you are loved and taken care of.

God bless you.

I don't mind folding laundry when it's fresh from the dryer.

Okay, so once again, I'm about to be the 4th shower of the morning, which means little to no chance of hot water.

argh.

On another note, (Ab), I have lots of clean underwear.

hoorah.

le weekend

post part deux:
this week (wed-sat) i'll be in abottsford. this shouldn't affect too many of you since i don't see you at or near my house on a daily basis.

why abottsford you ask? well, i'm attending a conference @ night, and still coming up here for school each day. i may be crazy. yes yes.

check it out right about....here.

I always want to make the linked words really cool, but I'm not always in the mood to imagine.

Anyway...i'm going to go buy school supplies. I think I have....yes, $0.23. maybe enough for a new pencil or pen to apply for a loan to buy books and paper.

just kidding.

i'm all alooone...

i'm in the library, and it smells like garbage.

i hope i don't smell like garbage, that would suck.

i'm pretty sure that my bag and i smell like peppermint tea, which i drank during music history.

the funny thing about studying an art @ school is how little time is left for actual creativity, assuming the need for 6-8 hours of sleep a night.

speaking of sleeping, i'm off to staples then back to school for my daily library nap.