YESSSSSSSSSSS....two research paper topics due in 1 week!

Hello All~

If anyone ever tells you that professors care about what is going on in your other classes, use the following form to educate them on real life:

1: Ask the person where you can find the hole they've been living in and fill it in.

2: Remind the person that you are a college student, and therefore know everything, and therefore are always right about everything.

3: Kindly ask the person if they'd do your homework for the week to see if they feel the same way about your professors.

Ok, so perhaps that's not as much a form to follow as it is what I said to someone this weekend, but I digress. My point is, I have two huge research papers due this semester, one for Paideia and one for my Art History course. I tried to be savvy and find something from both classes that I could do the same topic on and only write one paper. Alas, when one class is covering the conquest of the Mayas and the other is covering high renaissance and baroque art in Europe, finding a common topic was near to impossible. So, now I get the opportunity to write two full fledged research papers over this semester. Woo. Hoo.

Apart from that dismal fact, I also ended up in the ER this weekend. It wasn't anything big, the doctors just thought I had meningitis. Like I said, nothing big. As you can probably figure due to my not being dead, I ended up not having anything but some freaky virus. It was my first scare of the year though. I did have my vaccines though, so I guess that makes me safe for a bit longer than 8 months. Either way, I'm just going to throw this out there, I'd suggest getting all the vaccines, even the suggested ones for your pre-college physical (aka one fun time). It can't hurt, and living on close quarters for the first time in your life can do some freaky things to your immune system.

Now that I've frightened everyone with morbidity, on to a brighter note from the sunny side of college life (which in general, is the much larger of the two). I am currently taking lessons with my Jazz Band director, Tom Bourcier, to improve my "jazz-ness". Honestly, I can't improv to save my life, so I have really high hopes for these lessons. I came to school this year only knowing how to play notes off of a page, and hopefully when I leave this year (for the summer, don't worry), I hope to be able to do much more than that.

Well, I'm off to the chopping block, my first paper topic is due in an hour!

Later,
Jake

Its a B-E-A-utiful day in the neighborhood

Hello all!
I am writing to you from my deathbed.....well...not really-but it feels like it. I can't tell if I have the stomach flu, or am just dehydrated from only drinking pop for the last month...it's a valid question. You know that slightly nauseous feeling that is usually accompanied by light-headedness and your neck being warm? Yeah, that pretty much describes the last 48 hours for me. It really stinks too, because being sick always gives me an excuse to put off my homework. Which I still don't have done.

Woe is me, woe is me...blah blah blah

Anyways, I'm also hosting a prospective student (I have a bottle of germex attached to my waist, don't worry) for Luther's first shadow day of the year. Its when first year students can elect to host a "prospy" for a day and have the student follow them around for a whole day. Mine is a fricken awesome piano player, so its almost intimating. Almost ;). He seems like a really cool kid though, so I think having him follow me around for a day wont be that bad.

ALSO: We're singing Franz Beibl's Ave Maria in Norsemen. If you haven't heard it,i-Tunes it RIGHT NOW. It is my favorite Ave Maria of all time. To top it off, I'm in the selected trio (aka 9 people) that has the second choir part. Its really really really cool. Unless you're not a music junkie...then it may only be sort of cool.

Oh boy, I totally just remembered that I have a Paideia paper to write by tomorrow at noon. Oops. I'm going to have to stop early this time.

Hope the college search it going great!

Later,
Jake

Order...ORDER: Spring Semester is now in session!

Helllllllo~

It feels SO good to get back into the swing of a normal semester. Its not that I minded the stagnation of one class for an entire semester, but the ADHD part of my brain had a small party when it realized that it gets to perceive four classes a day again. I am currently taking the second semester of first year music theory: Music theory II. After that I get to run up one flight of stairs (in the same building) to my second class of the day, Art History. Some people asked me why I, as a music major am taking Art History. I've used the following explanations several times.

1. I'm utilizing the liberal arts curriculum here at Luther College and taking a class outside of my major field.

2. I really am interested in Art History.

3. Music is an art. Art History is about the history of art. Therefore I'll be learning about music...

4. I was bored and thought I'd take a history course...

All of the above, of course, are complete lies. Well, not complete lies as much as they are half truths. My main reason is that with a course with two names, you're bound to get two or more graduation requirements fulfilled. As selfish and arrogant as that may be, I will probably end up enjoying it.

After that, all I have left on Monday's, Wednesday's and Fridays are Paideia and Norsemen. I would write a funny story about them, but they're pretty much the same and I need to save my material.

I'm still involved in Jazz band, which rehearses on Tuesdays and Thursdays for an hour and a half. This semester we're working on this impossible song called The First Circle by Pat Metheny. My challenge to you: look it up and try and identify the meter...just try!

Well, my procrastinating personality is finally catching up with the realistic and responsible one. AKA I haven't started a paper that I have due tomorrow already. ACH!

Happy Trails!

Jake