apparently i
am an artist and not just
a stellar poet.
[found deep in a folder on my computer. by yours truly...i think]
am an artist and not just
a stellar poet.
[found deep in a folder on my computer. by yours truly...i think]Monday, October 26, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
you too?
Everybody and their dog went to the U2/Black-Eyed Peas concert last night. And by that I mean the entire OU stadium of about 80,000. And by that I mean I WAS TOTALLY THERE!!
Yep. Epic. I like U2, but it is far from my favorite band. I listen to their music on occasion and know a few songs not terribly well. But people, this is U2! And it's in Norman! And tickets are cheap! (I started to type chickets are teap at first...dyslexia). How could I not go? This will be one of those things I tell my kids about. "Yeah, I was at the U2 concert back in 09....it sure was windy where we were sitting..."
I thought I didn't know the Black-Eyed Peas at all but apparently I know some of their songs. It was a good show. It was loud. It was cold and windy. There were A LOT of people there. Traffic was bad. But you can't not go. Not an option, really.
And I thought again about how much I like live music. I didn't used to. It gave me a headache and it actually still does. I thought it was the same as music on a CD. Oh how wrong and stupid and naive and dumb and uneducated and uninformed and ridiculous of me. I'm glad I'm more mature and well-rounded and artistically inclined and self-aware now. Whew. But yeah, live music. It is good. It is an experience rather than a sound that you listen to or even just hear, like recorded music is. I mean, I love recorded music. But live music is moving. And there are so many more elements, namely the audience and watching the performer.
A few weeks ago I went to a live jazz performance. It was a five-member band that improvised the entire show. It was so good and so intense. Their first song lasted an hour and I didn't last much more than that. I felt exhausted just watching them. But it was really great. It was so interesting to see how each of them experienced the music so differently. And it was moving to watch music being invented and created right in front of me, not just played from memory. They worked together, taking turns taking the lead. And really it was the music leading. And they were enjoying it so much and feeling it and one guy was moving around like some Other had invaded his body. And one guy looked so smug and self-satisfied. And one guy was just childishly happy. But it was an amazing experience. It was intense because it was loud and continuous and improvised and there was so much energy between the five of them that some of it escaped to the audience too.
I am using really stream-of-consciousness writing so I hope that is intelligible and okay. The jazz was cool. I love jazz. Then there was U2. (i just typed u3....that's an available band name if anyone is out there looking. not copyrighted...yet.) That was intense but so totally different. That was just HUGE. That is probably the best word to describe the entire evening. The stage is big, the lights are big, the wind is big, Bono's voice is big, the audience and stadium is big, the songs are big, the screen is big, the excitement is big, the environment and feel and sound and everything are just BIG. The media and hype beforehand, the expectations, the set list, the alien theme...big. It may not be the best music I'll ever hear, or at least not the music I'll like the most, but it may be the best/biggest show I ever see. It was a good time. Good entertainment. Sensory overload. And they played the songs that I know plus some others. And a group of friends managed to sit together, which was unexpected and nice.
Well, I guess it's picture time!!
[alien stage]
[waiting for it to start. windy!]
[aw...look at the little interns...]
[the only time the crowd is not a wash of crimson]
[The Black-Eyed Peas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
[the group minus some Servens]
[BONO!!!!!!]
[the screen separated and descended...impressive]
[Bono goes Blue]
Yep. Epic. I like U2, but it is far from my favorite band. I listen to their music on occasion and know a few songs not terribly well. But people, this is U2! And it's in Norman! And tickets are cheap! (I started to type chickets are teap at first...dyslexia). How could I not go? This will be one of those things I tell my kids about. "Yeah, I was at the U2 concert back in 09....it sure was windy where we were sitting..."
I thought I didn't know the Black-Eyed Peas at all but apparently I know some of their songs. It was a good show. It was loud. It was cold and windy. There were A LOT of people there. Traffic was bad. But you can't not go. Not an option, really.
And I thought again about how much I like live music. I didn't used to. It gave me a headache and it actually still does. I thought it was the same as music on a CD. Oh how wrong and stupid and naive and dumb and uneducated and uninformed and ridiculous of me. I'm glad I'm more mature and well-rounded and artistically inclined and self-aware now. Whew. But yeah, live music. It is good. It is an experience rather than a sound that you listen to or even just hear, like recorded music is. I mean, I love recorded music. But live music is moving. And there are so many more elements, namely the audience and watching the performer.
A few weeks ago I went to a live jazz performance. It was a five-member band that improvised the entire show. It was so good and so intense. Their first song lasted an hour and I didn't last much more than that. I felt exhausted just watching them. But it was really great. It was so interesting to see how each of them experienced the music so differently. And it was moving to watch music being invented and created right in front of me, not just played from memory. They worked together, taking turns taking the lead. And really it was the music leading. And they were enjoying it so much and feeling it and one guy was moving around like some Other had invaded his body. And one guy looked so smug and self-satisfied. And one guy was just childishly happy. But it was an amazing experience. It was intense because it was loud and continuous and improvised and there was so much energy between the five of them that some of it escaped to the audience too.
I am using really stream-of-consciousness writing so I hope that is intelligible and okay. The jazz was cool. I love jazz. Then there was U2. (i just typed u3....that's an available band name if anyone is out there looking. not copyrighted...yet.) That was intense but so totally different. That was just HUGE. That is probably the best word to describe the entire evening. The stage is big, the lights are big, the wind is big, Bono's voice is big, the audience and stadium is big, the songs are big, the screen is big, the excitement is big, the environment and feel and sound and everything are just BIG. The media and hype beforehand, the expectations, the set list, the alien theme...big. It may not be the best music I'll ever hear, or at least not the music I'll like the most, but it may be the best/biggest show I ever see. It was a good time. Good entertainment. Sensory overload. And they played the songs that I know plus some others. And a group of friends managed to sit together, which was unexpected and nice.
Well, I guess it's picture time!!
[alien stage]
[waiting for it to start. windy!]
[aw...look at the little interns...]
[the only time the crowd is not a wash of crimson]
[The Black-Eyed Peas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
[the group minus some Servens]
[BONO!!!!!!]
[the screen separated and descended...impressive]
[Bono goes Blue]Tuesday, October 13, 2009
addendum to yesterday
Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord Who rises
With healing in His wings:
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after the rain
The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord Who rises
With healing in His wings:
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after the rain
In holy contemplation
We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God’s salvation,
And find it ever new;
Set free from present sorrow,
We cheerfully can say,
Let the unknown tomorrow
Bring with it what it may.
Tomorrow can bring us nothing,
But He will bear us through:
Who gives the lilies clothing
Will clothe His people, too:
Beneath the spreading heavens
No creature but is fed;
And He Who feeds the ravens
Will give His children bread.
Though vine nor fig tree neither
Their wonted fruit should bear,
Though all the fields should wither,
Nor flocks or herds be there
Yet, God the same abiding,
His praise shall tune my voice;
For, while in Him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice.
words by William Cowper
Monday, October 12, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
It's easy to type Octover instead of October.
I am listening to Ukrainian music. The more I listen to it, the more and more words I can pick out and translate. This is a highly satisfying endeavor for me.
A paper is due Wednesday. You know the rest.
This morning I talked to my family on Skype, and there were few to no connection problems (!). Isaac said my name for the first time in about two years (!!). It is so great to hear him starting to repeat sounds and words again. I pray his progress continues. My sisters read me some of their Kabardine homework - that's a local language that they teach at school there. Pretty foreign-sounding.
The leg warmers and scarves from Russia have come back out again. So great. I think cold weather makes me dress oddly because I have fewer clothes but have to wear more so I just wear weird combinations and layers. It is fun trying to strategize how to be warm without wearing the same thing all the time.
It hit me the other night that it is mid-October and a lot of college seniors finalize their post-graduation plans around this time. As in, it is mid-October. It is that time. In that moment I freaked out, but ultimately I am fine with not knowing what I am doing next year. Something will happen, I will do something and be somewhere. I will hopefully be doing and living somewhere that I like, but if not, things will work out. I don't know if that is being naively optimistic, or choosing to trust in God, but I am hoping for the latter. He has provided for me in the past and He is faithful.
I am listening to Ukrainian music. The more I listen to it, the more and more words I can pick out and translate. This is a highly satisfying endeavor for me.
A paper is due Wednesday. You know the rest.
This morning I talked to my family on Skype, and there were few to no connection problems (!). Isaac said my name for the first time in about two years (!!). It is so great to hear him starting to repeat sounds and words again. I pray his progress continues. My sisters read me some of their Kabardine homework - that's a local language that they teach at school there. Pretty foreign-sounding.
The leg warmers and scarves from Russia have come back out again. So great. I think cold weather makes me dress oddly because I have fewer clothes but have to wear more so I just wear weird combinations and layers. It is fun trying to strategize how to be warm without wearing the same thing all the time.It hit me the other night that it is mid-October and a lot of college seniors finalize their post-graduation plans around this time. As in, it is mid-October. It is that time. In that moment I freaked out, but ultimately I am fine with not knowing what I am doing next year. Something will happen, I will do something and be somewhere. I will hopefully be doing and living somewhere that I like, but if not, things will work out. I don't know if that is being naively optimistic, or choosing to trust in God, but I am hoping for the latter. He has provided for me in the past and He is faithful.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
on life as usual
The title of the post was inspired by Becky's post. Sometimes the mundanity of life is just fine. Today I am going for the list post.
- I really like Pandora. Last month I found out that there is a monthly listening limit when I hit 40 hours and had to wait a week before I could listen again. I have been on the Sufjan Stevens station for a few weeks now. I like him a lot. I've come a long way from my first blog post ever. Oddly enough a Simon&Garfunkel song has come on a couple times in the last day or two, and I would not have thought the two are similar at all.
- Fall has come to Norman. I think I like it, though the weather is still kind of inconsistent. I like the feeling and concept of sheltering myself from something much bigger than I am by being inside, wearing more clothes, and moving quickly. I think that fall makes people think about family and home and comfort. My roommate gave me a pumpkin spice candle and it, as of today, represents the season for me. Spices, scarves, tea, and my converse every day. I can't wait for the leaves to turn.
- Apparently I like linking today.
- I am really thankful for Skype.
- I wish that my parents had a better computer.
- Finally I am feeling like I am settled into the semester. Classes, roommates, church in the evening, not working on my independent study (who really wants to read or write about orientalism in Russian authors' writing about the Caucasus, anyway...), talking with people at Plaid, and not planning for next year. Hm. So maybe my settling in is really just a pattern of consistent avoidance. That's not the greatest.
- My friends got married! A beautiful, outdoor, sunset wedding with fireworks as they walked back down the aisle. Wonderful.
- I have decided not to go to the OU/Texas game. I am going to sell my ticket and hopefully make $200 off it. I hope that I don't regret my decision, but I don't think that I will.
- I really like this picture of my brother and sister. I feel like it represents their relationship well, and they are just so incredibly sweet and cute. I miss them a lot and am looking forward to hopefully seeing them in not too much over two months!
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