The first two days of summer session are progressing nicely. I had a short panic attack that I was taking the wrong class, which was immediately alleviated upon finding my old schedule plan for music majors. I am precisely on track. :)
May 9th, 1:00 AM (sort of) Tuesday, technically Day 1
My roommate appears an intriguing character. He has ample capacity for immense things of little worth or substance, not to mention three computer monitors, a TV, one tower, four gargantuan speakers, two fridges, and more toilet paper than I can count. He is like a pack-rat. A tall, muscular, could-pummel-me pack rat. He complains upon every entrance (he's still moving stuff from his room upstairs as I write this) into the room yet continues to accrue every electronic device in existence, as well as hurl bag upon bag of random crap that he just doesn't want to deal with into the closet. There is no longer a floor in there. I am glad I have so few clothes that I can take up the corner and fish my stuff out from there.
Based upon our conversations, which come very easily, a fact I am thankful for, it has become clear that we have made very different choices that have brought us here. So far, so good, but I fear I have thrown myself in with a partier, but no matter, that is not why I am here.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in one dining hall: North, which is directly behind Charter Oak, if you count behind as being under the river, through the woods, and down the hill (mighty scary to walk up at night). It feels like camp. Sure, the campus may be dead, but that doesn't stop the minimal personnel from mounting giant neon signs that read: "Welcome to summer classes! Yay!"
But the overrall feeling outside is that of a focused, peaceful, and beautiful setting. Every now and then I will pass another student, but most of the time I walk alone. I sort of like it that way. Without knowing anyone, more time can be left for me (like this blog), and I am rather enjoying that. Now it is just working my Musical Maintenance around the afternoon History class.
I've been passing a lot of cleaner construction sites. The SU food court is operational but not open (we're getting a Wendy's). However, the grounds outside look gorgeous. Good times are one the horizon. I am excited, can you tell?
Day 2
Zebra Cakes do not taste as good as I remember them to be. Perhaps they changed the ingredients or my body no longer accepts junk food as readily as it used to. But I continue to buy them every now and again in the hope that maybe this time tehy will allow me to revisit my childhood. Maybe this time they'll satisfy my longing for something that doesn't taste like guilt. Or not.
I love my History class. The instructor is a Grad Student hell-bent on making sure we get involved in the class. It's not a lecture, but a discussion. He has a certain amount of material he wants to cover in the 3-hour period, but our participation is constantly encouraged with questions and commentary. I have always loved that form of teaching; those usually turn out to be the classes I learn the most in, because I can make the education my own. That's what counts.
Today was a day of research mostly. I have discovered that walking from one end of the campus to the other only to practice for an hour or two is not worth getting scared out of my wits, so I have to practice earlier in the day, and then just work into the evening. That should be fine for me.
But the research was for a slew of different things. Here's the rundown, see if some of these words make sense: Helleberg, Altieri, Schilke, Canadian Brass, Gastroesophaegal Reflux Disorder, Eccentric Inventions of 1972. Well, the Canadian Brass should alert some people. Yes, I was looking at mouthpieces, as well as a Tuba backpack. Why? The Helleberg II - Schilke and CB Arnold Jacobs mouthpieces are ones I borrowed from my instructor to try out for Jury. Their thinner rims and deeper cups allowed a sudden ability to articulate my music that I had never experienced before...then I had to give them back. Also, immediately following commencement, my case had its last hurrah, as one wheel got crunched sideways and the other jammed, so I proceeded to haul the behemoth from Gampel pavilion all the way back to the music building (good arm workout I guess). On top of this, I found another amazing reference site: MedicineNet. So I looked up Acid Reflux...
Well, I can't eat much chocolate anymore. And my right as a 21-year-old has been perpectually squelched. As of now, that's fine with me. My funds should stay where they are.
Thanks for reading, have a good night,
--Adam
PS: This, I hope, will be the first of many for the summer. You want recaps of my day? Anecdotes of eventful eccentrics? Fine! You'll get it buddy!
