Year of the Dragon

I haven't been very good at posting this week. Sorry. I've found myself to be quite busy. I have a band concert on Sunday, so I've had rehearsal, including another 2.5 hour marathon tonight. The weather lately has been beautiful, though it's clouded up a bit now. But baseball was quite fun yesterday. It sort of felt like "Little America" out on the sports fields. We, being the 5 of us who showed up, were playing baseball and running scenarios on one part of the fields. Right next to us there was a group of probably around 20 people playing American football, full pads and everything. They were really into calling out the plays in intensely masculine barks. Reminded me of my elementary school recess football career. Anyways, we were attempting to practice the outfield drop step technique. I feel as if I'm getting closer towards discovering my natural throwing motion. My arm is feeling stronger, and I am able to do more before becoming fatigued. While we're on the subject, I've been keeping up faithfully with spring training down in Ft. Myers. I have mixed feelings thus far. Yes, the Twins' record is terrible, but a lot of that has to do with incredibly outmatched minor league relievers who have no chance of making the big league team. I'm extremely encouraged by recent starts by Ramon Ortiz, Carlos Silva, Sidney Ponson, and Matt Garza. But seriously, we need to score more runs too.

So yeah, band this Sunday. Here's the program for the Wind Ensemble.

1. Year of the Dragon- Philip Sparke
2. Arcadia- James Crockford (student composition)
3. Sleep- Eric Whitacre
4. Music from the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring- Howard Shore, arr. Victor Lopez

The Lord of the Rings arrangement is terrible. The student composition is pretty much crap. But the other two, the Sparke and the Whitacre are pretty cool. I like Eric Whitacre's stuff in general though. We did manage to get a second trombonist (same guy who played second in orchestra fall semester). But, he's pretty much incompetant, and thinks it funny that he can't play the parts. See earlier posts for my rants about the lazy ass UNott response to music, I don't want to repeat it again.

Tuesday night, following another rousing 2.5 hours of band, I came home and watched a documentary entitled "Jesus Camp" with Brandon, Emily, Kevin, and Ryan (sort of). It may have been the scariest thing I have ever seen on film. The focus was on extreme fundamentalist Christianity and the indoctrination of kids. It's pretty much a Christian cult. 10 year old kids, completely devoid of the ability to think for themselves, no desire to even test their beliefs, praying around a cardboard cutout of George W. Bush, because as a holy man, God has ordained him to lead the United States to righteousness. The central person was a Pentecostal children's minister who runs a summer camp in North Dakota. She compared the indoctrination of evangelical kids to Islamic terrorist camps, putting grenades in kids' hands. I can't even describe all that seemed horribly wrong about the tactics and fearmongering used. I'd highly recommend checking it out.

So right, that's what's been happening lately. Along with the band stuff this weekend, I really need to get on my American History essay. I think I'm going to do it on Cesar Chavez. My dad has officially landed in the British Isles, and after a complicated journey over, is hopefully on his way to Ireland as I type.

Momentously, I have decided upon a spring break itinerary. Check it out, e-mail any comments or whatever. I'm only in one place for two nights, everywhere else is three or more, which I think is a good idea. Anyways, that's what's up right now. Later.

March 23- train to London
March 24-28- Paris (via Eurostar)
March 28-30- Mont St. Michel, France
March 30-April 2- Tours, France
April 2-6- Nice, France (daytrips to Provence, Monaco)
April 6-9- Siena, Italy (daytrip to Florence)
April 9-12- Rome, Italy
April 12-15- Sorrento, Italy (daytrip to Pompeii)
April 15-18- Athens, Greece
April 18-21- Istanbul, Turkey
April 21- return to London, train back to Nottingham