Nugae

I had a mean caffeine headache for most of today.

Talked to Louise in the kitchen for a while. I'm much more social when my shoes are still on. Meaning, before I'm comfortably secluded in my room. I don't like leaving after I'm settled I guess.

I could live on quesadillas. For a week or two.

Oh yeah Leap Day! Happy birthday Grandpa!

Flattened by trivialities

Last night I was taking a shower and some asshole thought it'd be funny to screw up our electric board switch thing. I don't know what it's called right now. But yeah, probably one of Taige's friends again. I could hear the little bastard laughing and he ran out of the room. Douche.
Guys are stupid. I used to be like "yeah but girls are stupid too." Nope, guys can totally win the stupidity contest.

Trad was awesome today. The teacher plays button accordion and he brought his in today 'cause the lecture was on the different styles that emerged based on different instruments. Yesterday it was about how different fiddle styles came about depending on the region, but the melodeon and accordion styles are just because of the limitations of the different instruments. I thought it was really cool. He played all the different styles he was talking about--ornamentations like triplets and chromaticism and single note triplets. He also told us basically how the accordion works which I never really understood. It seems really hard--you're doing three or four things at once. I love the way it sounds though.

It must be spring because my allergies are driving me mad...

I wasted some pasta tonight. So sad. I don't know where our colander went so I was using the lid to the pan. I've done this a million times, but I don't know what happened--I got careless and all the noodles slipped through into the sink. And there was no saving that. I'm sure our sink is home to some bacteria just waiting to mutate into TB or E.Coli or Trench Fever. So that sucked. I have to go grocery shopping tomorrow though. I'm missing the greens already.

Also sucky: I've been trying to buy concert tickets online all damn day and it's not letting me. The Civil Wars are going to be at The Academy in Dublin in 2 weeks and it doesn't say it's sold out. But no...maybe I'll try actually going there on Saturday. There's also a really cool book sale on Saturdays in Temple Bar so....maybe.
Check it out. This is at 6:30pm. Summer's coming.

Spring swaps snow for leaves

and add some rain.

I must have gotten pretty oblivious in the few weeks before I went home 'cause it's pretty springy here right now. The leaves are coming back--there's a tree down in south campus with pink flowers all over it now. Right now it's pouring. Irish pouring though. The rain here is so weird. You can't hear it and you can't see it. You get soaked through really quickly though.

So yeah, I think that was a very successful vacation. I hate that going home was a vacation though. It kind of put a damper on things for me knowing that I had to turn around and leave again. It was great though. I needed it. The flights back here were alright. The one to Chicago was a full flight and I was in the middle seat 'cause I didn't get to choose online. It's alright though 'cause I slept through most of it. The second flight there was no one next to me. That happened in September too. The movies changed and none of them looked good, so I just kind of did nothing. I tried to sleep through most of it, but couldn't really.
Flying west is like you're chasing daylight, and flying east is like you're meeting daylight. They're both pretty cool I think.

Today in sociology tutorial we had to talk in groups about people who wear pajamas in public. I thought it was pretty funny. The first question was what immediately comes to mind when you see someone in pajamas. Lazy was popular. Knackers/tinkers were also popular. Those are people of the "traveling community." They're Irish gypsies basically. Anyway, my group made me talk, and after having, before all this, to to sit through half an hour of a group present "what it means to be Irish" by reading power point slides word for word or reading long passages from an article we all already read, I needed someone to speak intelligently on the fly and no one else seemed willing. I'm not saying they are stupid. I'm just saying the specific people in my tutorial suck at public speaking. I don't think they have to give presentations a lot. I remember doing this kind of shit back in Elementary school. Anyways, a group before us said that it's a "girly" thing to wear pajamas in public, and apparently it is never done by people in school. So then I got to show off my American-ness and be like yeah, people wear pajama stuff all the time out in public. In high school, to the grocery store, Walmart, the gym, wherever. And it's guys too. They thought that was funny. One girl was shocked about the high school part of it. So, it's another cultural thing I guess.

Know my name as it's called again

Do you ever find yourself not breathing? I don't mean you're suffocating or hyperventilating. I just mean you realize you're holding your breath, and you don't know why.

I'm tense for some reason.

My mattress is shite too. My back is killing me. If I didn't sleep so much it probably wouldn't be so bad. I can't give it up though--I'm not pleasant when I don't sleep enough.

One foot on sea, one on shore

Here's the kitchen this morning. It receded a lot overnight so it doesn't look as bad now. And actually since this morning Aoife's mostly cleaned it up. Not entirely though...She helped me figure out how to get the music department cover sheet for assignments though, so I guess she's off my shit list. Maybe. I was ragin last night cause she came back with her friends at 3am and were talking all loud and playing guitar until 5. Didn't sleep much. Eh she's still on the list I reckon.

I really don't like sociology. I thought that I would. I like talking to people about it, but sitting through this class is killing me. I just feel like it's unimportant. Today she was on about this guy Goffman and how he says that people are like stage performers in that they wear different masks depending on who they are around and the way they act shapes their identity. This is opposed to another theory which says you belong in certain roles/have whatever identity you have and your actions are based on that...who cares? I know they're trying to figure out why people act the way they do and how society influences a persons actions and thoughts about himself, but c'mon. I can only hear the word "performance" so many times in an hour.

Tony is definitely off the shit list. He can stay even though he doesn't know how to do dishes. He was telling me about the Rangers soccer team and how they owed 45million dollars and they had to do some administration something thing. I wasn't really following because I don't even know what's going on when people talk to me about American sports. He's really nice and friendly though. He took all the trash out for Aoife and asked me if I had any ready to go. I wouldn't have done that.

I'm knackered. I think I'm going to go to sleep early tonight. If it's relatively peaceful up in here that is.

I got my ticket...

and I'm going to go...

New obsession: The Civil Wars. Don't judge them by their name. And nobody better tell me/think I'm going country. Folk is different. A little...

There's a swamp in the kitchen. I don't know what happened, but there's murky water covering the floor. And a little bit ago I heard "WHERE'S THE CRAIC??" yelled desperately literally around ten times in our hallway. Then literal screaming in the stairwell. A bunch of lads came in here and I guess they are responsible for the kitchen. Oh yeah the shopping cart, AKA "trolley", is also in the kitchen. I wouldn't care too too much, but I wanted to use Aoife's keyboard with it also in the kitchen--on a stand, no worries.

We got our first counterpoint assignment that is due Thursday next, but it's short and should be kinda-sorta easy because it's basically what I did every day for the last two school years: voice leading. So I did it, and I think it's done--it doesn't break any rules--but I don't know what it sounds like and you kind of know if it's right or wrong based on what it sounds like...so I wanted to play it, but, gross. Maybe it'll dry up a bit by the mornin.

Today in Traditional Irish Music class, teacher-man talked about Irish music in America from around 1890-1935. Lots more black-face than I would have thought. I would have thought none. It's so weird. We're a fucked up country. The "Ethiopian Troupe" was actually a bunch of white guys that played "Traditional Irish Music" on non-"Traditional Irish" instruments in variety theatres...what the hell.

When these trees have leaves on them and when that ivy covering south campus turns green, then I'll call it spring. Unless ivy is a summer thing...I'll just settle for leaves.

Who in this world could ask me to resist?

I was pretty damn bored yesterday and spend an hour talking to Louise in the kitchen. (not that I have to bored to talk to her, it just probably wouldn't have been as long) I guess it's spring now. February 1st is always when winter turns to spring here. It's St. Brigid's day, and I guess she said it had to be spring. Isn't the equinox or something March 21st? I'm not going mad right? Winter is a long season. It doesn't just change season every three months...but whatever. I'm in the springtime people.

The Grammys are tonight. I'm excited. I only like a few people that are nominated, but I want them to win everything of course. I actually don't even really know who's performing besides Adele, but she's brilliant and lovely so that's exciting. I think I'm starting to get excited over less and less exciting things. I am going mad. Maybe not. Nothing wrong about getting a bit giddy over music right?

I have no reason to reason with you

I said I was going to paint, and I did. Mad isn't it? Saying you're going to do something and actually doing it.

Time makes you bolder

A maintenance man woke me up this morning. At 11 he knocked on my door and I jumped out of bed real fast. With my hair standing on end, no bra, and crusty eyes, I answered the door. Good thing he just asked my name and went away. He was going around asking everyone their names...I guess making sure we were all living where we said we were on paper.

I watched some "My Drunk Kitchen" on youtube and then wanted to drink a bunch of wine, so I went and got some, and drank it all. Now I'm tired.

That's been Friday. It was gross outside today. Tomorrow I'm going to paint. All day.

Paint my spirit gold

I got the box you sent Grandma! Thank you so much! I miss you.

There have people in and out of here all day. Taige with the gaming lads, Aoife talking about who got the shift how many times with Hazel, and Louise with her maths mates. That's fine I guess. I just avoid them.

I don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow. I feel like I should do something. I finished Notes from Underground and other stories yesterday. It wasn't what I was expecting. "...the meaning of man's life consists in proving to himself every minute that he's a man and not a piano key." It's really just the story of a pitiful man's most shameful experiences. That's the top layer at least. I guess I'm on to Dickens again! That should take some time.

Anyway, I hope it's not raining tomorrow.

Eliot

No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be
Am an attendant lord, one that will do
To swell a progress, start a scene or two,
Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool,
Deferential, glad to be of use,
Politic, cautious, and meticulous;
Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse;
At times, indeed, almost ridiculous --
Almost, at times, the Fool.

I read through The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock again today. I like it much more now.

Madison and Katie invited me to eat dinner with them last night. They bought a taco kit at Dunnes. It's kind of funny--in the box are tortillas, salsa, and a spice mix. They bought onions, peppers, and chicken. And then I cooked it all for them. They said they are terrible at cooking meat. Fine with me. I enjoy it. It was actually really good. But they had a little dilemma about about how to warm the tortillas. First it was going to be in the microwave, but the box didn't say anything about putting a wet cloth in with it. Then it was in the oven, but none of us have any foil. Then it was just don't warm them at all. Then I said I would do that too. In a pan. Quickly. I'm glad that I can cook for myself.

Close my ears and eyes

Not much to report lately. Music teachers are the coolest. There are some English teachers that are grand, but they're outliers. I don't think I'm being biased either. Not in the sense that I want to like them because I'm going to be one of them (I have no illusions about the kind of teacher I'm going to be), but maybe in the sense that I'm just generally more impressed with them.
The way that Rise of Athens teacher talks makes me feel like John Keating is his role model and he wants us to all jump on our tables and scream lines of Walt Whitman at him. It seems as though Sociology woman chooses three words per lecture to repeat, shouting at us from her podium. I think Roman Lit man is alright. He's a bit lacking in personality, but he's got an English accent and that makes us for a lot. And then the music guys are just chill and nice and not at all pretentious. I'm also just completely enamored by anyone who can play the piano.

Bathroom light fixed once and for all. Grand.

The moon was massive earlier. It was beautiful.

Knackered

Today was very Monday. I've been on autopilot most of the day to be honest. I kind of enjoy that though--being a bit out of it. It's like when you're reading a good book and you aren't really aware of yourself anymore. There was also a legitimate mist going on all day.

I was very productive though.

It feels quite late now.

Taige actually lives here now. He's been here with his friends screaming at a game in his room for three nights now. Last night it got rude, but I couldn't sleep anyway.

"Hi" is American. "Hiya" is Irish.

Cheap garlic comes molding I guess. I'll have to remember to be more vigilant.

I think I'll go to a session next week. That's a Trad jam at a pub. We'll see though. Maybe I could get Madison and Katie to go with me.

I'll walk slow

In a moment of weakness I bought a frozen pizza at the store and that was dinner. I was feeling lazy. Which is stupid because as soon as I got back I was all energized and tidied my room. Oh well.

I love Tetris. I think it's my favorite.

Okay so tomorrow...early day. Have to drop a class, buy staff paper, copy a handout off of moodle because I don't have a printing card (and just don't want to pay for one. The card is 4 euro and then it's 8 cents per page you print.), and that's all. Not bad. I feel like there's something I'm forgetting though.

It wasn't cold today. Hallelujah. I really can't wait for spring. I've never hated winter more.

Ebullient

I don't even remember what I did on Thursday. I had no classes, so I slept late I'm sure. There was hot whiskey though.

Yesterday was much of the same--complained about my bathroom light. It's out again, but it's not the bulb it's the fittings, so that sucks.

Today was grand though. New music! I practiced for about an hour and my face could handle it, so that's a good sign. I put a version of my solo on my ipod too--should have done that 6 months ago.

I've to go grocery shopping tomorrow. Can't be without onions or pasta.

Spent a chunk of time editing photos too.

Two Weeks

It's been a weird day. I didn't have to wake up early 'cause I didn't have class until noon. I'm going to drop the Fall of Rome class. It's a third year module and he was saying all these things we should remember from second year and he wants us to buy a book and course booklet thing and the second lecture of the week is at 9am on Thursday. Three strikes. The teacher is American though. That would have been nice.

I had the wrong classroom written down for the next class. Turns out it's in south campus. I was late. Not that big of a deal. South campus is so cool though. This hall is in in the building that makes the east wall of St. Jame's square. I don't really remember the campus tour, but I think the cathedral is the oldest building, but the square collectively is the oldest part of campus. The lecture hall is really cool. I'll get a picture of it sometime. It's like an amphitheatre with long wooden benches and the teacher is down at the bottom with a podium and there's 20 feet of air above him. Just makes the room look huge.

There are a lot of classes with tutorials. They are like little mini classes that you have to go to outside of the lectures. I had to go register for mine today and made it for 5pm on Mondays. Seems like a sucky time, but I didn't want to have anything on Thursday or Friday.

Something is going on tonight. A game or something. Taige--the roommate that doesn't seem to live here--has had people in and out of his room for the last five hours. He has loud friends too. There have been rugby matches here the last few days too.