the dreaming tree

why don’t i blog…ever?

david — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:31:51 +0000

i’ve been thinking recently that i never use this thing anymore. but that doesn’t mean i’ve stopped thinking about stuff. in fact, that’s the problem. i never feel like i’m fully informed or have completed forming my thoughts enough to put them out for people to read. and usually once i actually do hit publish, i want to go back immediately and revise. a lot of times i think and think about a subject until i find a party willing, or sometimes unwilling, to go through a discussion with me, and then it all comes pouring out. but i’ve been doing that in real life, more than i have in print. but i like to write, and i kind of miss doing that.

recently the big topic of discussion in my head has been politics. i’ve been reading lots of blogs and websites, and i have ideas about stuff, but i like to share those in a setting where i know i’ll get feedback, which (hopefully) further refines my ideas and opinions. (i do have an online forum for that process…it’s called the rumor forum.) but now i’ve been thinking that i’d like to post a little more to this blog. even if i have to go back and revise my ideas later. so i guess the point of this post was nothing at all, other than, perhaps i will post more in the future. haha, that’s lame.

possibly the most random phone call ever

david — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:38:07 +0000

i’m going to try to summarize the conversation i had with just the essentials.

background: i work in a call center for familylife ministries, which has a radio show. so i receive calls from listeners. our program today had parents talking about dealing with the loss a child and how to cope with that…

guy: [with a middle eastern accent] hello, i’m new to this country. is your number an 800 toll-free line?

me: [thinking: didn't you just dial the 800?] yes, it is.

guy: ok, well, i heard your program about people dying, and i want to learn about my grandfather. he was in new york, but i can’t find any documentation about him. he was an upstanding man.

me: … well…ok…

guy: so i’m trying to find out about that.

me: well, good luck with that, sir. but i don’t think i can help you with that.

guy: what about galahad?

[he really did switch to that abrubtly]

me: what? galahad? i’m not sure what you’re talking about.

guy: yeah, sir galahad from the round table. wasn’t he supposed to be like jesus?

me: …

guy: can you explain that to me?

me: yeah, well, he’s a christ figure in some ways, i guess…maybe…

guy: what about arthur? what’s his story?

me: well…um…he’s a legend…

guy: is he real?

me: well, he’s more of a myth at this point in history, but there may have been someone similar to him at some point, historians can’t be sure because there’s so much legend surrounding the story…[and i go on about what i know about the arthurian legend for a few minutes; he periodically interjects more questions]…so, does that make sense?

guy: yes, that makes sense. do i have to give you my name?

me: um, no…

guy: [proceeds to give me his name, which i can't remember] thank you, goodbye.

over and out

david — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:01:06 +0000

i really don’t have the capacity to write much now, but i wanted to be sure to put a sentence or two that i could come back to later. this is my last night in fayetteville as a college student. i’m done. i’m leaving here 100% done with my degree. i’m also leaving behind some of my most memorable college experiences, the majority of which have happened within the last year and a half. i want to cry and laugh at the same time. i’m excited about where i’ll meet these people again. i’m planning to meet up with one of my closest fayetteville friends in argentina a few months from now. hopefully i’ll see a couple of the others along the way. and the adventure will be grand. but as for now, this moment is enveloping me.

i’m done…sorta

david — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:03:15 +0000

for those that might still read this and don’t already know, i had my senior composition recital last friday. it wasn’t spectacular, but it happened, and i’m glad it’s over with. although, at the same time, i really wish i had a little more time to make it significantly better. particularly one piece, which i conducted. it was for a small ensemble, and we were only able to rehearse one time…the day of the concert. so that was a little shaky, although it seemed to be ok, because people said they liked it. but they could have loved it. in any case, it was a good experience, only know i’m starved for more like it. but unless i go to graduate school, i likely won’t have too many chances to have my work performed. except for the choir piece, which the choral director told me i could probably get published with just a few adjustments (mainly to make it easier to sing, and thus more effective). so that’s a little exciting, though i don’t really know how to go about that. but anyway, there’s a short, superficial update.

tonight, tonight

david — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:13:02 +0000

tonight a dream comes true. tonight i get to see joshua bell play. for those that don’t know, he’s one of the top violinists in the world today. in my opinion, the best. i’ve been hoping to see him since i first heard him on his recording of the nicholas maw violin concerto during my freshman year. i’ve been waiting to see him since last year when i learned that he would be playing with the arkansas symphony. it’s going to be amazing. he’s playing the mendelssohn e minor concerto, which is fabulous. and i’m really hoping i get to meet him after, cause he usually hangs out in the lobby to meet people after he plays (so i’ve heard). i really want to get my photograph taken with him. this is about as fan boy as i get. i’ll probably swoon. and it’s going to be so great.