Exciting Things

I am really happy today. So I thought I'd write a blog.

First of all, last night's show went really well... at least I think so. Every week, a set of us artists gets a band together and rehearses a few songs for a show on Thursday night. I was one of the artists to go this past week, but because of our Boston trip, we missed about three hours of rehearsals. "Hide and Seek" (the song) was coming along very slowly (because it's really hard) and even though the girls singing with me took like four extra hours out of their free time to do extra rehearsing, it was still not perfect. Wednesday, the day before the show, we got together at 10 pm to work on it. After an hour of rehearsal, we decided to change the song. At 11:00pm the night before the show, we took an hour and a half to learn a song I had just written. We practiced it again on Thursday for 20 minutes and that was all the rehearsal we had on that song. Despite that, my set went really well. And I am very pleased. :)

Then, Friday is laundry day. And I love the smell of clean laundry.

And Friday is also the day we get crazy good brunch - so I got bacon. Mmm. I love bacon.

And then I got an email from the CU music department - I might be able to graduate a semester early! That thrills me to my toes!

Anyway, I'm going to go try to write. This week's song-writing assignment is to write a song with which we could end a concert. Like, a "sum of me" song - If I had one last song to sing, what would it be? Should be interesting.

Love and Laundry,

LeahJoy

Boston, Erik Satie, Profanity, etc...

This weekend, we're taking a group trip to Boston. I'm very excited. I've never been to Boston. Shoot, the only big cities I've been to are Chicago and Toronto. (Ok, and Charlotte and Detroit, but they're not really that big.) Anyway, it should be really fun. And I'll probably sleep really well on a hotel bed. Mm, that sounds good.

Also, here is a funny article from Erik Satie (the twentieth-century composer). He was making fun of artists who feel like they have to be ... well, different.

A Day in The Life of a Musician

"An artist must regulate his life.

Here is a time-table of my daily acts. I rise at 7.18; am inspired from 10.23 to 11.47. I lunch at 12.11 and leave the table at 12.14. A healthy ride on horse-back round my domain follows from 1.19 pm to 2.53 pm. Another bout of inspiration from 3.12 to 4.7 pm. From 5 to 6.47 pm various occupations (fencing, reflection, immobility, visits, contemplation, dexterity, natation, etc.)

Dinner is served at 7.16 and finished at 7.20 pm. From 8.9 to 9.59 pm symphonic readings (out loud). I go to bed regularly at 10.37 pm. Once a week (on Tuesdays) I awake with a start at 3.14 am.

My only nourishment consists of food that is white: eggs, sugar, shredded bones, the fat of dead animals, veal, salt, coco-nuts, chicken cooked in white water, mouldy fruit, rice, turnips, sausages in camphor, pastry, cheese (white varieties), cotton salad, and certain kinds of fish (without their skin). I boil my wine and drink it cold mixed with the juice of the Fuschia. I have a good appetite but never talk when eating for fear of strangling myself.

I breathe carefully (a little at a time) and dance very rarely. When walking I hold my ribs and look steadily behind me.

My expression is very serious; when I laugh it is unintentional, and I always apologise very politely.

I sleep with only one eye closed, very profoundly. My bed is round with a hole in it for my head to go through. Every hour a servant takes my temperature and gives me another. "

===

I just really like that.

Lately, I've been listening to Kate Nash. Her music is really cool. It bothers me that she uses profanity so much. That's actually been the hardest thing here at the CMC. So many people are so comfortable with swearing. I always end up talking like the people around me, so I've had to be really careful and really start watching what I say. I think cursing can be okay sometimes - to make a point, to add emphasis... occasionally for humor. But just putting it in everywhere? What makes us different as Christians? What sets us apart? If we sound just like everyone else... well, I don't think people are really going to notice that we're different. We don't need to be priggish about it and shun everyone who curses - that's not helpful at all. But we can just refrain from using those words. It's not that hard.

Anyway, I like Kate Nash, and I'm doing a cover of her song "Pumpkin Soup" for our next show. I'm also doing a cover of "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap. Look them up if you aren't familiar with them and want to be.

I think that's about it for now.

Love and Less-Complicated Chord Progressions,

LeahJoy

Super Bowl Thoughts

So, I think we all know I don't give a flying fart in space about the football game. I cheer for a team because if I don't, my little brother will think I'm more insane than he already does. So, "Go Colts!" (That one was for you, Jacob.)

I'm sitting here on the couch in the Cafe, 'watching' the game. Which means, occasionally glancing up during the game to make fun of something, watching the commercials (which have sucked so far, except for the one where the little kid just told his mom's date off), and ... well, blogging. I brought my knitting, too.

What is "Bud Light - Golden Wheat"? I don't get it. I guess I much prefer Bud Light - Silver Wheat. I don't know.

And parties need food. That's really why I'm here. So I had some wings, and a potato skin thing with bacon. Mmmm.... And an apple... 'cause it was there. I want cookies.

Hey, I just noticed that the Colts scored. Go Colts!

I spent the afternoon knitting and listening to Rich Mullins. I can't think of a better way to spend it.

I have Late Night in Studio A tonight from 11pm-2am. We have to finish EQing and mixing my first master. Should be fun.

So, I have such big calluses on my left fingers right now (from playing guitar) that I can't use any touch screens with that hand. Like, they just don't recognize my calluses as ... fingers, I guess.

Right now I have a strange oatmeal craving.

Why do they wear such tight pants? Ok, I guess I do understand that. But why do the cameramen have to get such awkward angles of said tight pants?

I love this place. When we watched the Grammys last weekend, EVERYONE was there. This weekend, for the Super Bowl? Half of us... maybe.

1:10 left in the first... quarter? Are football games in quarters? I'm utterly ignorant.

By the way, Carrie Underwood sang the national anthem, and it was great.... Until the word "brave". Wow, was that pitchy! Everyone here started shouting "woah!!"

Wow, there was just a really disturbing commercial. I hope Jacob wasn't watching that.

:30 left in the first quarter. I think I'll be done with these thoughts after that, 'cause it's going to be the same things over and over again for the rest of the game.

Why isn't the Super Bowl kid friendly anymore? I mean... the game is. And they choose ridiculously old-school bands for the half-time show so there won't be any more 'wardrobe malfunctions', but honestly? These commercials? I'm embarrassed to be watching this!

I like it when the commentators circle on the screen. It looks like fun.

Well... first quarter over. I hope you enjoyed or ignored these really random thoughts.

Love and Chocolate-Chip Cookies,

LeahJoy

Songs

So, I've been getting more into song-writing lately. I feel like that's one of my strong points. Since here, I've finished two really good (in my opinion) songs, and started about seven pretty decent ones. I'm kinda thrilled about that, actually. It's funny, though, how our song-writing assignments work.

Our first assignment was just to write a good chorus, and that turned into one of the unfinished songs I have so far. It's just a feel-good song. (It's going to be a techno/dance/rave song.) However, after that, things went downhill emotionally. Our next assignment was to write a song about pain. Mine is REALLY powerful. (It's one of the two finished ones.) It's really sad! I wrote it about rape, but my teacher said it could be taken as a political commentary, too. So, for our next assignment (write a Bible song), I wrote a political commentary. It could be taken as to the government today, or to the government of Jesus' day. Anyway, it's a pretty angry blues song. Our latest assignment is to write a song about anger. So again... a pretty angry song. Everyone here is going to think I have anger issues! :) Except that aside from those, the other songs I've written here are pretty happy. I wrote a duet love song (another finished one) and I just started one about how much I love mornings. I also have one started about my First Love and another about Lake Michigan. They're all very happy. I just can't seem to finish them.

Anyway, so I'm writing angry songs. :) There's your life update.

Love and Loquacity,

LeahJoy