Saturday, August 28, 2010

Mozart Reincarnate?


One of my friends, Brian Golka, and I began composing a song on the piano on Thursday evening. Now, both of us have had quite a lot of experience with music and so we both know a thing or two about it. We're not writing an entire symphony, it's really just a very simple chord progression with a pretty easy melody. The overarching plan is to add several different instruments to the mix and put together a set list. I have been playing piano for about 8 or 9 years and Brian has been playing the drums for, well a long time and has a lot more experience with the drums than I have with the piano. We have other friends that are extremely talented on other instruments such as guitar, bass, saxophone, vocals, and...accordion! One of the things that excites me about this whole experience is that we planned on meeting for just an hour that first evening and, while we really only worked on the song for that hour, we spent 3 or four hours just talking about all of the possibilities that could come out of this work.

We want each song to have something different about it. Different genre, key signature, theme, anything else that you can think of to have variety in music.

No doubt, this is the most exciting thing happening in my life right now. Now that I've said that, I'm not really sure why, but playing the piano always relaxes me (and I've dabbled on the guitar as well and that's always awesome as well even though I only know a few chords). Music, behind camping and fishing, is my most cherished hobby. If I get good enough, I would like to combine the two and play the guitar around a campfire while I'm camping. Can't think of a better way to spend a weekend! Oh and I can't have a campfire without s'mores, so whenever I take 5 from playing the guitar, I'll have to make sure to fuel up for more.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Three Days, Two Concerts







This week I went to the first concert I've ever actually paid for. The two main bands were Switchfoot and Goo Goo Dolls. I know both of the bands well enough to have thought, "Yea, I will quite enjoy this experience." I had fun, but the next time I pay $45 to see a concert, I'm going to make sure it's a band that I really reallly want to see because the most entertaining part of the evening for me was watching two guys make complete fools out of themselves trying to impress a couple of girls who were sitting in our row. Always love a crash and burn! We all have them. It was really cool though, one of the girls that came in our group, Taylor Saalfeld, won a guitar from the opening band Green River Ordinance (not a big name, but she won a guitar!)






The second concert of the weekend was free through Rockhurst. The headliner was Phil Vassar. Now, I'm a country fan, but at first I was thinking, "Phil Vassar...okay, you guys got the right genre this year, but...Phil Vassar?" Did I ever eat my words on this one. Phil Vassar puts on a great show. I knew enough of his songs to be able to sing along with at least a handful of them, and he just emits energy to the crowd that gets everybody going. One of the openers was also particularly impressive. Twin brothers who just graduated high school are touring together, and their band is very good. This concert was, in my opinion, way better than the one I paid for. Way to go, Phil!






Overall, a great way to spend the first weekend after getting back into the swing of a new school year. Now...Sunday afternoon...I guess I should study : (






Wednesday, August 18, 2010

ADG National Convention - KCMO
















This year, Alpha Delta Gamma held its National Convention in Kansas City. It worked out perfectly for me because I spent the entire summer here and so I nixed any travel costs that I would have had if I had come from Arvada for the event.

My first role during the convention was a group presentation in front of the entire national fraternity, including most of the National Executive Board. At first, I was really worried about the presentation because I found out that I had a speaking part only a week before the seminar was supposed to take place; however, with the help of the other guys who were giving the presentation, I was able to pull it all together, and I got a lot of positive feedback from some of the guys from across the nation.

The climax of the week was when our chapter, Zeta Chapter, was awarded Chapter of the Year. We all worked really hard this past year, not that being best chapter in the nation was what was driving us, but it was very rewarding to know that all of the improvements we had made as a chapter had been recognized. It was a really exciting week, and I made a handful of new friends. The only downfall of having the convention in Kansas City was that I wasn't staying at the hotel with everyone; I would have liked that because then I could have spent more time with my fraternity brothers from across the United States. Ad Dei Gloriam.

Monday, August 9, 2010

New House Coming Together
















I spent my first night in my new house this past Wednesday. This has been a typical move - take stuff form the old place, dump it at the new place. Slowly, very slowly, things were starting to get organized and we were settling in. I put u pa rod in my closet to hang all of my clothes; scored a free bed; attempted to put a shelf on top of the rod of clothes, but the bracket popped out of the wall so that project failed. Despite this minor setback, I can now see the floor in my room, and I can maneuver my way around without too much hassle. I also got a couple of my pictures framed and hung on the wall which puts somewhat of a finishing touch on the place.

The main project that had been seemingly overwhelming was the living room. My roommate Josh and I worked on it for really only about an hour or so before we found the setup that we decided would work best. You can actually walk freely through the living room to the dining room without performing any gymnastics or breaking your neck. Oh, the simple things we take for granted. Speaking of taking things for granted, I took my first warm shower in the place today. The past few days the shower had been pretty chilly, which I don't mind all that much, but a warm shower in the morning is always nice.

As fond as I am of the new place - it makes me really proud that I've been able to work my way into being able to afford a place of my own - my real home will always be in Colorado. This is my home away from home, temporarily. Nothing will ever compare to a drawn-out gaze to the west while the sun sets over the majestic Rocky Mountains. Luckily, I have breath-taking photos of my favorite place to go on vacation; well not necessarily the exact spot, but camping in the mountains always gets it done for me. Kind of got side-tracked a little bit there, but the main thing I'm getting at is that my house in Kansas City is feeling like another home, and I'm really excited for all of the great memories that are in store for Josh, Nate, and I this upcoming year.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Quality Time







I went home last weekend and just simply had the time of my life. The fun started Thursday morning when I went to my aunt and uncle's house to help put together food trays for my cousin's wedding. Great family bonding time. Not to mention joining the "Ooga Booga Tribe." If you really want to know, you can ask me. We proceeded to the reception hall to decorate for the post-wedding festivities.

The next day, I went to a place called Heritage Square where some of my cousins and I rode the Alpine Slide. I relate it to summer bobsledding. Later that evening, my parents hosted the "Uninvited Party" for everyone who was not involved in the rehearsal dinner. It was really awesome. In addition to catching up with some friends who I had not seen in a long time, I pitched wiffle balls to my younger cousins for about an hour. After that, they decided that they were tired of me playing pitcher and they wanted me to be a horse instead. It was a short-lived ride. What can I say? I was worn out from them hitting over 750 home runs on me in our front yard. Again, I'll tell you how the numbers work out if you ask.

Also, on Friday afternoon, I went to my grandma's house and we picked cherries to make a cherry crisp for the misfit party. After the crisp was finished, there was still leftover cherry juice and my aunt taught me how to make cherry syrup. I won't go into details, but the pancakes I had the next morning were quite delicious.

On to the big day. The wedding was, well...quick and painless I guess. Now on to the reception! The Langfield family knows how to do wedding receptions. Did someone say, "Sausage sandwiches!?" Oh and I don't like to brag, but I burned up the dance floor like it was nobody's business. Lemonade and ice water became the fuel for my stylish dancing boots.

The next two days were much slower. Went swimming a couple of times. I also went to a "Bazaar" and the coolest thing there was the velcro jump inflatable. The sign said no flipping but who are they kidding? Everyone wants to see somebody do it. So I took one for the team and gave the people what they wanted.

Sunday night was my final night with my family. We went to Old Chicago for dinner. Simple. Pizza. Delicious. So many wonderful memories all in a few short days. I could go on forever. Life is sooooo good!!!