Mr. Photographer
Today kinda sucked... had some serious car problems and didn't make it down to Pasadena for the drumline rehearsal. Oh well... here's to throwing even more money away on my car. 
On a better note, I had an amazing week this week. I've obviously met a ton of great people at UH but it's great to break into that lifestyle I thought I was too old for. 
ha. I'm right back where I left off 5 years ago. Boy was it worth the wait. Back into the lounging around the music school, practicing with more of a purpose, going to all the parties and acting like a fool when the time calls for it.
So, I played "mr. photographer" the other day. I had to park at the lot across from the music school and there was this big open field and a pretty good view of downtown Houston. So, here's a nice pic I took of the skyline with a guy in the foreground throwing a frisbe. It's a great pic!
Well, I hope tomorrow is a good day. I probably won't be online much as I have a lot of cleaning to do and I have to do lots of laundry, dishes, taking trash out, and anything else I've neglected doing over the last week and a half.
'night!
~G~
Enjoying School at UH
I had my first lesson with Vassallo today... have to admit, I felt great going in and felt great leaving. I played my best for him... probably better than I expected. He just wanted to get a feel where I was at with my playing and I think I put it all there for him. Well, at least what I could with a few Clarkes and a flow study. But he digs my playing and it seems like he's got his work cut out for him. I need to work on a lot of stuff, which I will start this evening, so that makes me happy that even at my best playing for him that he still finds a TON of stuff I need to work on.
Well, today was very relaxed and fun. I got to go to the UH workout facility this afternoon. That place is heaven. I heard so many great things about it and until the minute I waled in there, I didn't realize how amazing it actually was. I'll be visiting that gym about every day for the rest of my life. And even though I'm getting raped for a membership at Bally's (expires in '06) I'd rather just go to the gym here and pretend I'm still going to Bally's... so it won't feel like I'm wasting my money away on not going to the gym. (like most of us with memberships do... yeah, you know who you are). 
This school is great. I definitely came to the right place. Oh, and by the way... for all of you that would love to know this... it's sunny and 75 outside today. Just thought I'd point that out. Not trying to rub it in to y'all Michigan peeps! But it feels so good to not have to plow through snow and sleet and shit like that. haha. Sorry... I really don't miss the winter at all. People said I would. Screw that. I was born to be a Texan. (But my home will always be MI... a home I'll only visit in the 3 month it doesn't snow out of the year).
I'm doing a lot better than I was about 6 weeks ago. Man, what a shitty month of December I had. But also very fortunate that things worked out to get into school now. I do still wish I could have just waited until the fall to start school, but I get the opportunity to play with an extremely talented wind ensemble and I'm so excited about the music we are playing. The March concert will be packed with some very flashy music. And the May concert we are performing a wind ensemble arrangement of the complete Sheherazade!! How cool is that!? This will be a very fun semester, and even though my schedule is light, it's gonna kick my ass because I plan to get a LOT better at not only trumpet, but my piano, teaching lessons, organizational junk, and especially money management. I'm usually stinkin' up the joint on ballancing my checkbook and watching what I spend and whatnot, but with school being an hour drive away now, and having to still get a hold of some books and stuff, this will be a sememster where I might have to skip a meal or two a day or maybe buy one of those cool solar powered cars to get to and from school.
So, overall... life is good. Not great yet. Still a lot on my mind. Not completely happy... still wish I had what I had a long time ago... but the more time goes by and the more I have to distract me here at school, the easier it gets... I guess. I guess the "distractions" don't have as much of an effect on me as it does for other people. I guess I just hold those things very close to my heart and will not let them go "just because..." or whatever...
But, time is tickin' and I have to get some practicing done. Gotta sound a little better for WE tomorrow. Plus, I now have to switch my piano class. This might suck, because I don't think any other classes were open last I checked. But, ya never know.
Bye.
G
I’m a Celebrity… Sorta
Hi there. it's been a while so I figured it was that time I finally gave a bit of an update on things. Wow, what a hecktic week it was for sure. Everything that I thought I had a few months to take care of I ended up having to do in a few days. I seriously don't understand how I made it through the last 2 weeks of my life without going crazy, but luckily I have a lot of friends that were able to supply me with not only a place to crash every now and then but also a ton of support.
I have to be honest, I got a "gift" with my audition at UH. I started out great on the Bitsch... didn't miss anything (I don't think)... and I was ready to kick some ass on that. I nailed the shit outta the first etude... sounded like shit on all the rest of the stuff. ah well... it happens. I got freakishly nervous though... I don't understand why, but with everything I had going on at the time, I was just a little overwhelmed with everything.
So, somehow I made the top wind ensemble, which is just incredible. I don't wanna make a big hoot out of it, because I seriously have to bust my ass to show I deserve to be in there. I think I do, but with the way I played my audition, I can't let that happen when the fall comes around. They'll eat me alive if I sound like I did before. (but that's just my expectations).
I finally got to take my math and reading tests on Thursday morning. I found out at around 4pm on Wednesday that I had to be at the school at 8am Th to take that 5-hour test. I got done in about 3 because I didn't have to take the whole thing. But about an hour after I took that test I had to go take my theory placement. Holy hell, that sucked. I couldn't think of anything but algebra and the pythagorian theorem the whole time they were doing the dictation part. I honestly just couldn't do any of the harmonic dictation to save my life. And that was what I was best at. Suck ass.
So, I'm not gonna take theory this semester... gonna get back at it in Theory V in the fall. I think when I get back in and take the test again, things will be the way they should have been had I had the time to actually review my stuff... I mean, it's been almost 5 years for pete's sake.
So, I have to practice a lot today. Tulsa is gonna be pretty easy for me to play again, because I played it like 10 years ago... ha. But when we played it in HS it was a LOT different. I just listened to our CD and just cringed and laughed every 2 seconds. Now we're playing it here and the first time I've had the chance in so long. I'm so excited about this March concert.
And I got Mr. Vassallo for my teacher. Score on that one! he's pretty amazing. I haven't studied with him yet, but I heard so many great things from everyone here. We'll see how things go in our first lesson this week. Again, it's been about 5 years on the lesson front also. And I think I've done a pretty darn good job on my own. I can't wait to see how much I can improve now that I'm studying with a great teacher and playing in an amazing wind ensemble. I at least hope I do actually improve this semester.
Besides all the fun of getting back into school, I have met a lot of amazing people. It's kinda funny that I walk into a room here and 30 people turn and say "Hey George" and I know maybe 10 of them. Coming into a school that is 90% drum corps and at least have those people are affiliated with The Cavaliers, that just makes me feel very much at home! I'm definitely in a place that is right for me. Unlike Michigan, which is an amazing school, but I could never get over the fact that I could never be "me" when I was there. Drum corps wasn't a big thing for the music majors at all. Half the stories I would tell my friends there would just go over their head because they just didn't understand. Now, it's exactly the opposite. And I can just let loose and talk about everything I used to have to hold back before.
There's a great vibe in the school of music. I already feel like I'm fitting in, even though I've been in school for a day so far. I might be getting ahead of myself, but it really is a small world when I can say that I'm attending classes with people I marched drum corps with and even taught when they were in corps. Too weird but also too funny! I love it.
So, now I'm on the hunt for a new place closer to Houston. And possibly a roomie. I'm all about getting a place closer to campus and rooming with a buddy. I've got a ton of friends in the area and possibly could find a few people that might wanna get a place with me. Right now, I have a 42 mile commute, which will kick my ass a bit... but I'll make it work out. But the good alternative is the fact I only have 9 credits this semester... trying to up it to 11, but I can't get on the registration page until 3:30 today. I'll get to it eventually.
My schedule is really easy right now: wind ensemble, piano, TBA natural science class, TBA computers/tech for musicians... and lessons. Not a bad class sched for me.
Okay - time to get crackin' at stuff. I have lots to do... lots of time to do it. I love school. Makes you work. And I love to work.
~ GH ~
*61
Well, today is my dad's birthday... he's the big 61!! I got to talk to him today to wish him happy birthday and all... he's doing well. Said the best birthday present would be to see his team (the Eagles) at least make it to the Super Bowl. I'm gonna pray with him. I'm not a huge Eagles fan or anything... (Patriots!!) but I was born in Philly and I would love to see an Eagles/Colts super bowl this Feb. That would be excellent!! If T.O. is back and at least 80%, that could be quite an exciting game to watch. Of course, the Colts will have to get past my Pats this weekend.
So, finally received my "official" acceptance letter from UH. All this application stuff and getting accepted was a bitch to take care of, but it's now official. I am now a Coog!
Umm... there's more to talk about and I know I keep saying "more soon, blah blah..." but it seems that once I get something taken care of in my life, a new and bigger problem presents itself. In my case, I have a lot hovering over my head and a lot to take in over the next few days. I just hope everything works out.
I'm gonna head home now... gotta get some music together for my audition and see how my chops are doing. And it's Friday night!!! woo hoo... TGIF!!! but I have nothing to do but sit at my place and practice. : That's fine... school starts next week and I gotta get my game on.
be back soon...
G
Orientation
So, I had this long ass day of orientation... it's just too bad I live an hour away from school. ha. I love it though... having to wake up at 5:30 for a 7:30 start time. And I didn't get to leave until after 6:30. yikes... talk about drained.
Anyway, again I have too little time to talk about stuff, but I will soon.
So, at this moment, I am wondering... why is everyone breaking up?? or is it just our bad luck? I don't know. I won't read into it too much, but I feel so bad that me, along with a lot of my friends, are going through some serious unfortunate events... some for the better... but getting through the shittiness... quite a task that I have yet to overcome. :
Well, fortunately I have friends everywhere I look. And I love them all. :') So, I just hope everyone else is doing okay. And please... nobody break up anymore... if you only could hear and see what I've heard and seen the last 5 weeks of my life.
I have to get home. battery about dead and I have lots to practice still. (I think I need some caffiene... yikes).
later.
G
Practice Makes Perfect
Hey everyone... it's been a week now since I last took the time to write something. I wanna say lots, but I'm too busy right now to get everything down on here. But I promise to update y'all soon.
I have to get home to practice my butt off... 1 week and counting until UH audition. wish me luck.
George
Bumpy Ride
Okay... I'm back in Texas after probably the worst trip I could have imagined. I pretty much relieved myself of my fear of flying a little while ago... it's more fun to me now than it was scary. But my flight back to Dallas... anything but fun. The captian said it would be bumpy a little bit of the flight due to weather and stuff... not the case... it was bumpy all TWO AND A HALF HOURS of the flight. The smoothest part of the ride was when the plane was stationary at the gate in Detroit.
Backing up a bit, I had an okay time in Michigan... not a very exciting time at all on my birthday... everyone forgot. oh well... I guess I can't expect much when it's at the time it is. And new years... yeah, it pretty much sucked too. I even tried to make the most of it. I called a bunch of people back home to see what they were doing. And people were like, "yeah we're at this place in Birmingham... come on over"... or they were in E. Lansing... or Royal Oak... and here's me... at home in Canton... flew from TX and I didn't have a car. (the only 2 cars available were my brother's - which has a busted tie rod, or something... and my mom's, which had a dead battery, until we fixed it the next day). So, I was like, "can someone come get me?" And everyone's like, "no, we're too drunk already..." or "I don't wanna drive all the way out to get you". ... well... that's just how it goes sometimes. :
Anyway, I went to Terri's on Sunday. I had a great time with her. I wish I could have spent more time out there in Jenison, but I had to get home so I could fly back to TX the next morning. Her mom made us a great dinner... I wanted to eat more, but I haven't really been able to eat a whole lot lately. The only time I actually ate a LOT was at Jen's for Christmas dinner... but I think that's because we had dinner at about 1pm... and all I had since 7am was a bowl of cereal. (and a lot to drink the night before, so I was definitely craving food).
Anyway, I wanted to stay longer to chat with Terri, but it was already 9:30 and I had a 2 1/2 hour drive back to Canton. I got home just a little after midnight and still had to finish the packing and stuff... I had things everywhere. Plus, I was re-packing my suitcases with new stuff from home to bring with me back here, and leave some other clothes and stuff there. It took me a little over 2 hours to do all that.
So, my flight at DTW was at 6:15 am (EST) and I had to leave the house by 5 to get there in time. Needless to say, everything worked out as planned, I got to the airport, did the speedy check-in... luckily got my big suitcase on without being charged because it was 0.2 lbs overweight. I got through security just fine and walked to the gate. Got on the flight about 10 minutes later and we were off. All I could think about was finally getting a chance to sleep. Because I only slept about an hour the night before.
Well, I already told you the story about that flight... no question whether I slept or not... I didn't even doze off. All I could think about was "I can't wait until we land, because maybe I can sleep those 15 minutes until we get to the gate." I don't know why I get so nervous when the plane shakes... and it wasn't like any normal bumps... I mean, when the captain said it was gonna be bumpy and told the flight attendants to remain seated with their seatbelts fastened, I kinda worried. But we hit about every wind pocket and gust you could imagine.... there were times I saw and felt the plane turn left, right, angles, up, down... oh my gosh... and the pilot comes back on to say he'd like everyone to stay seated unless it's a serious emergency for the remainder of the flight... I'm sitting here thinking, we just took off 20 minutes ago!!
Anyway, I could keep blabbling about that flight, but I'm just thankful God guided us through safely and we made it to Dallas on time. It was raining pretty bad at DFW, but thankfully it was at least warm. Something it wasn't in MI.
So, Jennifer picked me up at DFW around 8:30. Very nice to see her again... she treated me to some sweet Sonic and had a good time talking about our breaks and all. I went back to her house and we hung out for a couple hours. I picked up some of my stuff I left there and got to chat with her family for a bit before I was on my way.
So, I get in my car and start driving, and it was some of the worst rain I ever had to drive through in my life. ugh! I mean, my car was all over the freeway. I almost began to think I'd rather be flying right now. ha! So, I take it easy, driving back to Conroe... and all of the sudden, it hits me that I haven't slept in a long time. I actually didn't even do the math until I was in the car driving, but I was on-the-go for litterally 2 days straight without stopping.
So, I get home yesterday around 2. Never knew how exciting it would be to be back at my apartment. But it was then that it hit me that I hadn't paid my Jan rent yet!! wtf?! agh! anyway, that's taken care of... thank goodness they were nice about things and gave me a bit of a grace period. I completely forgot, mostly because I had been away for a couple weeks. But I was chillin' at my apt. just watchin' some TV... my mom called me back around 4 and I remember just being totally out of it. After I got off the phone with her, I laid down on the couch and just crashed.
Well... 16 hours later and some of the most f***ed up dreams, I woke up a little after 8am this morning. Boy, I needed that. I think it's a lot of the last few weeks of losing sleep and it's kinda caught up to me.
And today was great because I got a check from Mitch... with that guy being in New friggin' Zealand for 2 months, it kinda puts my finances on a bit of a hold here and there. So, now I can do all that Christmas shopping I was supposed to do 2 weeks ago.
And what do I do now? Practice!!! I have my UH audition in 2 weeks... I'm gonna do well.
Gosh... there were so many memories of the past 2 weeks that I want to forget, but also so many that I want to remember and think about forever. I'll always remember the 3 days I was at Jen's. The day I spent at Terri's. Hangin' out and jammin' on trumpet with Jake. Goin' to watch the Michigan marching band with Aimee. Seeing Erin and Smitty... you know... everything that was with my friends.
I got to talk to my friend Jessica for the first time in a long while. I wish I kept in touch with her more.
Well, I better go find something to do... lots of time to kill in between practice session. Sometimes I wish I played a non-brass instrument so I could fill more of the day with making music. I guess I'll just have to make the music by way of my CD player.
have a good one.
~ George