More Adventures

So Bricklayers Foundation's live performance went really well. It was a little venue not too far from my place, there was a crowd of about 20 people, and I thought we played pretty well considering how little we'd practiced. It was great to play some old songs Ross and I wrote years ago, as well as a couple newer ones. We're gonna keep rehearsing, getting comfortable with our lineup, and hopefully performing. I'll let you know once we start climbing the pop charts.
I started giving weekly guitar lessons at a nearby school. We have two groups, one younger and one older, and about 10 kids total. It's tons of fun when they are really focused and are getting the material. I'm still working on making that kind of connection with the younger kids, but I know it'll come in time.
I read another Palahniuk book called Lullaby which I really liked, and am almost done with Catch-22 as we speak. I've received more books in the mail from Dad, not to mention awesome clothes from Ellie and Mom. Thanks so much! It's a lot easier getting rid of old socks with holes in them when I have new pairs sitting right there waiting for a chance. Honestly, it's been pretty chilly recently, but nothing I can't handle. The dogs are doing well, they don't seem to mind the weather, so who am I to complain?
Another cool recent event was a surprise birthday concert held for our very own Professor Schelle in Indianapolis. His wife Miho organized the whole thing, and it was amazing hearing about the enthusiastic response from all the composers and performers. I really wish I could have been there, but I had to teach guitar to those kids instead! Even so I sent a piece which was a lot of fun to write.
Thesis update: I've resubmitted my revised thesis and paper, and am now waiting for responses from the committee at Butler. It's been approved by one out of four, but obviously these are busy guys so I'm not going to pressure the others. Next step would be scheduling a day that I can take off work, head down to Indy, and kick butt at my oral exam.
Random note: I found Estrella beer at a liquor store nearby! This is all we drank in Barcelona, and I haven't seen it since. Now I know where to find it if I'm in the mood for a delicious beverage and perhaps even a Catalonian seance.

Three cheers for 2010

It's been a crazy month since my last post. Thanksgiving in Boston was amazing, but in order to conserve money I made the decision to stay in Chicago for Christmas and New Years. It didn't disappoint.
For Christmas I got to hang out with Betsy's family in the suburbs, had an outstanding time, and even answered some questions about Hanukkah. I was still walking dogs and taking care of cats every day, like this big one called Zoe. She was a handful, to say the least. She was very strong, but also very friendly and fun to be around.
Betsy and I got to hang out a lot, and that usually means eating great food. One day we went to this place called Flub a Dub Chub's, a phenomenal little hole-in-the-wall hot dog and burger haven. My burger literally had a hot dog inside it. It nearly floored me.
We sampled some other great food like Kuma's Corner which also has unforgettable burgers, as well as a long wait, but it's totally worth it. Great beer too.
For New Years we didn't want to do anything too crazy/expensive, so we had a little shindig at my pad. Some Butler friends came up for the night, and some Chicago buddies stopped by as well. We ate pizza and homemade dip (which rocked), played cards, drank cheap champagne, and enjoyed ourselves immensely.
I've been walking a couple more dogs recently who just needed to be photographed, plain and simple. Here's Chloe, a beautiful little Shih Tzu who reminds me of Bogey but younger and more hungry for attention.
And then there's Langston, a Yorkshire terrier who just blows my mind with how cute he is.
He's literally about the size of a football, I'm pretty sure I could fit him in my mouth. But that's gross.
Ok, enough pictures for now. It's hard remembering everything else I've been up to. Ross and I restarted our old band Bricklayers Foundation, this time with his roommates Ruth and Drew. In fact, we're probably performing this Thursday night. I'll let you know how it goes.
I saw some really cool free-jazz recently at a cool bar called the Green Mill, and then Uncle Charlie stopped by this week for some great food, tasty beer, and a Wisconsin basketball game at Northwestern. Just an all around fantastic time.
As for books, I found out it was my father who was sending me those unmarked books through the mail. I finished American Pastoral, and then made my way through The Ginger Man and the Third Man. Really great stuff, especially the movie version of the Third Man with Orson Welles. I read Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk, pretty gruesome and messed up, but I give it a thumbs up. I read Timequake by Vonnegut, which was half sci-fi novel, half autobiographical memoir. Pretty unique. I cruised through the Sun Also Rises, and once again realized how great Hemingway can balance so many different emotions/aspects at once. I just finished High Fidelity, which I thought was better than the movie in most ways with the main exception being Jack Black's performance. I may be forgetting a book or two, but what can you expect with my torrid pace?
I emailed my revised thesis to my professors back at Butler, so now I wait and see if it gets approved or if it still needs a little work. Once it gets approved I can head down there, turn the final copy into the library, and take my oral exams. Can't wait!
I've also started giving guitar/piano lessons in the suburbs once a week, and will soon be giving group/individual lessons to kids at a school once a week. We'll see how it all works out in the end, but there's one thing I am sure of: Go Ravens!
PS-check out what I found at a liquor store near my house...a tequila gun! What a great world we live in!