I know, it’s been forever.
I will do a real update soon, but in the meantime, I wanted to let anybody who is still reading this about a fun new website called NoiseTrade. It’s a website where musicians can get the word out about their music, and you can get cheap (or even free) music downloads! I’ve gotten lots of new music to try out, and found some artists that I really like already. It’s a great way to try out some new artists, and get the word out to your friends about musicians you already like. Check it out!
https://www.noisetrade.com/index.aspx
OK, so it’s been too long since I updated, but there’s been a lot going on, some of it just not blog-worthy or blog-appropriate. (that sounds slightly dirty, sorry.)
~ My college sorority had a reunion a couple weekends ago in the mountains of Pigeon Forge (which, incidentally, is like Myrtle Beach in the mountains – and if you don’t already know how I feel about Myrtle Beach, I should tell you that I HATE it.). We ate a lot, reminisced, looked at oooold pictures and went to Dixie Stampede – a lot of fun, but very little sleep was had with that many girls in one house.
~ We are now looking seriously at a December graduation, largely dependent on my productivity over the next couple months, as well as my committee’s mood at the time of our meeting. But I’m looking into job possibilities and have some good ones so far, though nothing is definite yet. I will almost certainly have to leave the area, which makes me sad, but there will hopefully be a chance for me to return sometime soon. We’ll see…
~ The brother is working at Sony pictures right now – he’s been making some good contacts with people in the industry and helping with some indy productions (is that right?) – he’s looking for a place to rent, possibly with a couple friends he’s got who are currently or soon will be out in LA, so that’s exciting. Maybe they will find a place big enough that I can come out and visit after I have a real job. (please?)
~ I got to spend some time with some girlfriends this part weekend – it was a really nice, relaxing weekend, nothing super-structured or formal, and I had a really good time – drinking wine, talking, playing with the new bunnies (!) and watching movies.
~ My friend Dawn and I are going to try to run a 5K in the fall, so I really have to get back to training – I haven’t really run since the early spring, so I’m way not ready right now – and I pulled a muscle in my lower back a couple weeks ago, but that’s almost completely resolved now, so I have no excuses. I even bought new running shoes, since I’d worn through the backs of my previous ones.
~ I’ve slipped back into my habit of reading several books at once, so that has changed my reading pattern a bit – it takes me longer to finish an individual book with several going together, but then I finish a bunch all together. It’s largely because of book clubs and when the library happens to get certain books to me, but I should really go back to my original rule of one at a time. Anyway, after finishing the Harry Potter series (finally!!!), I’ve moved into Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, mourning over the completion of my beloved HP children’s series. I’ve gotten really sucked into them (I’m almost finished with #2), though I don’t think they compare all that well with the complexity of Harry Potter or some other children’s series – they are quite enthralling on a plot-level, and the major children characters are precocious but sympathetic. (Plus, I’m listening to them on CD in the car, and one of the major characters is voiced by this guy who sounds EXactly like Colin Firth!!! Awesomeness!) I’m also reading Bel Canto for a book club, and I’m constantly struck by the beauty of the writing – and I have to admit, I’m rarely focused on the writing over the plot, but I’ve definitely stopped reading several times and sat there stunned by the incredible way in which things have been described. I’m about halfway through, and I’m looking forward to our eventual discussion.
OK, that’s enough for now – this fall is shaping up to be a very busy time for me, but I will try to keep this more up-to-date than it’s been the past couple months. Even if it’s just what I’d reading or what I’m doing.
I promise that I will update this thing eventually – things have been waaaay too busy lately, but I’m hoping some time will be freed up soon. I have been keeping up my ‘books read’ list, if you’re interested – 44 and counting! Thanks for tuning in!
I don’t have a lot of time (I’m finally back at home after a long drive in holiday traffic and now hanging out with family), but here’s one of my favorite Christmas hymns – Derek Webb now has a new version that’s fabulous, you should check it out!
Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.
Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to us a Savior,
When half spent was the night.
The shepherds heard the story proclaimed by angels bright,
How Christ, the Lord of glory was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped and in the manger they found Him,
As angel heralds said.
This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.
My grandfather, John ‘Jack’ Burns passed away this morning in Kaukauna WI – my parents had luckily arrived less than 12 hours before. My brother and I will be flying up Monday for the visitation and funeral, along with lots of other extended family members – please keep my entire family in your prayers as we all come to grips with this loss. I don’t think it will really hit me til we get up there, I’m mostly not feeling much of anything right now. How do you deal with loss like this? of someone to whom you’re related but have little other than blood in common? Your prayers are coveted.
