Enjoy Life (not the cereal)

Sometimes when I notice certain intricacies of nature I become extremely amused and happy. One time I was putting chains on the MPV, I think it was either last year or the year before. Anyways, the chains are wrapped around the wheel and the two sides of the chain need to be secured together. I coudln't see one side of the part I had to secure because it was on the inner side of the wheel, so intuitivly I used my sense of feel to lock the chains in place. As I finished up, an overwhelming torrent of thoughts rushed through my head. I was blown away at how God made feeling in hands and how the mind translated the feeling into action.

But that's not exactly why I felt like writing, although it's kind of related. I'm writing because I have been humming this piece of music I'm playing, and I have been enjoying it a lot. It is making me happy as I hum it. Isn't that strange? A series of pitches specifically placed together created little amusing sounds which tickle whatever glands enjoy music in our soft brain. I like how God makes fun, simple things for us to enjoy.

If you want to hear it, the piece is mvt II from the Mendelssohn E minor concerto for violin.

Quarter

I am going to try to quickly summerize my past quarter at UCLA. This has been my best quarter yet at school. I learned a lot, I practiced, I went to the gym a lot, made some new friends, and ENJOYED life while at UCLA... for once. Why go to school and suffer: I have found that your time is precious, and the last thing you would want is to get burned out-especially as a musician. Oh yeah, I skateboard now.

Some other things: I will probably take a quarter off a year from now to prepare for graduate school. I've just begun to look into different programs. From the looks of it, I don't want to go to an ultra competative NY school. I hear there are some mean folks there. Once I start to seriously apply I'll let everyone know where I might be going. It most likely will not be in CA, however. I would like to go to a school in a relaxed environment.

Break has been good, although I should be practicing more. I have a new weight set now so I can work out at home much better. We had our annual snowboard trip last week which went very well (can't wait until next year).

Good night.