Screwing around

So I'm playing in Schoolcraft's music, which is a good time. But I'm going to be really honest, the three worst behaved people in there are myself, Schoolcraft's band director, and Emily Cox. The three band directors. My cubicle idea really went over really well. Nearly every brass player ended up putting up some stuff. Some of the students in the musical actualy said they'd bring me some stuff to put up there. It was kind of neat. It was a really fun rehearsal in general. We'll see how I hold up tomorrow after a late one tonight....

Who will watch the Watchmen...

Well, my weekend has sadly come to a close. Its sad stuff. Not that I've really done much with my weekend.

The thesis for this particular entry is that there was probably way too much nudity in Watchmen. I mean it was a good movie, and while I heard people complain that it was slow, I really enjoyed it. The one big complaint was the incredible amount of nudity in there. It was like "wow, can't anyone be covered up?" Ok so it wasn't really that bad, but there was a lot and if you cut it out, the movie would've still been the same and good.

In other news, I'm playing the the pit for Schoolcraft's musical (Cinderella) and the way they have us sitting is as part of a backdrop, but still hidden. So if you had X-ray vision, you could see us center stage in the back. Well, my little area is like a little cubicle (cubical?), so I decided to decorate it as such tomorrow. It's going to be pretty fantastic. I'm going to bring in pictures, and a kid is bringing in a calendar, and I'm going to have a stapler. If I could put a hook for a coat or a hat I would really be awesome. I'll have to put up some pictures of it on my facebook when I'm done with it, because its going to be hilarious.

The next month is going to be really busy, but thats ok. I'm crazy tough and awesome :)

Digby

I've got a goldfish
and his name is Digby
Found him at the store for 15 cents.
When I brought him home
I put him in a bowl
and he swam around like a happy fish
He likes food and
He does tricks and
Thats my goldfish
Digby.

I loved that fish. Seriously more than a lot of people my sophmore year in college. I would seriously sit and talk to him sometimes when nobody was around. Frankly, I probably couldn't have made it through the year without him.

This memory of my friend/fish was brought on by Laura Anderson asking last night about an old online diary entry about her. I read through some of it today. I was(am?) pretty pessimistic about thing, but I read about Digby dying and it made me really sad. I really hope the people who bought our house in the Ville didn't desecrate his gravesite. I'm thinking about getting another fish. Goldfish obviously, named Digby II. I'll assume that the fish I get will be Digby's only child. Fear not, if that happens, plenty of pictures will be up on facebook about him.

In other news, band got 1s from the judges.

Take 2

Ok this is take 2 for tonight. I was just going to give up, because last time I was entering this I closed out another blog window and my computer (as it does every so often) decided to start opening up window after window after window. Needless to say I was not entertained so I just shut down the computer.

But enough about randomly multiplying windows. Band festival for HS tomorrow. Its been the perfect storm. Had the full group on Monday, haven't rehearsed again except for today, when I was missing just under 1/2 of the group because of activities. So tomorrow could really suck badly.

In other news, I'm talking to Laura Anderson tonight and I dug up my old online journal thingy. Man, I was pretty hardcore back then. Some of those entries were pretty interesting to see. I might surf through all of them this weekend when I have a bit more time.

Song of the day is either Taylor Swift- White Horse, or Carrie Underwood- I told you so. Thats all for tonight. More tomorrow.

Fan Base

Sweet, I officially consider myself to have a fan base of at least 2 that I know of. For all you creeping in the shadows out there, come on and admit that you follow my life. Its ok, I follow my life too.

Did I complain about Festival? I probably shouldn't but I feel obligated to let the John Murphy fan base know that my MS did not in fact recieve a 2. Well, I guess we did in sight reading. Nope, no 2s for us at all actually. we got straight 3s..... It was mildly disappointing, but scores were rough on Tuesday, and my MS didn't deserve 1s, so it kind of just happened. I'm fairly certain that Friday with the HS will be better.

So I'm going to discuss my reading habits over the last 10 years. In MS, I read pretty hardcore because its fun to read. Then in HS when you're supposed to read your text books, I largely didn't. In fact, I didn't read a single thing for English class from the beginning of my freshman year until halfway through my senior year. what really makes it impressive is that I had the highest grade on one test in Mrs. Barnes class. Then in college I was really bad about reading text books, but I normally picked the material up. And aside from Harry Potter, I didn't really read for fun. Totally lame I know. Anyhow, that brings me to my 3rd year of teaching. In part of my prep time, I hangout with the MS librarian and watch the silly things that kids do. And watching them turn in their books, has caused me to start checking out books from the MS library. Yes people, I'm 26, a teacher, and I'm reading at a 7th grade reading level.

Last thought for the night. I love Billy Joel. I love The Office. Therefore, I love this: http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1900687

Festival news-age

Hm.... is it really possible to have two incredibly intense weeks in a row? Evidently it is. Let me lay it out for you.

Last week:
Monday- School -> WW quintet practice -> home around 9:45
Tuesday- School -> Pre-Festival concert -> home around 9:20
Wednesday- School -> Brass Band -> home around 10:15
Thursday- School -> Brass Band concert @ New Buffalo -> home around 11
Friday- School -> home (thank goodness)

This week:
Monday- School ->WW quintet practice -> home around 9:15
Tuesday- School -> MS Band Festival -> (church maybe?) Schoolcraft's musical practice -> home?
Wednesday- Band Festival working -> counseling -> home?
Thursday- WW quintet gig @ Andrews -> School to rehearse HS Band -> HHS musical practice -> home
Friday- HS Band Festival 9am -> School -> home?


Its crazy to be John Murphy sometimes, but I guess I'm kind of crazy. I really think that I have the crazy effect on people, maybe I just bring it out. Prime example would be Mr. Ben Harris. I remember him as a freshman being very quiet and not talking.......and anyone who knows him now would say that is the anti-Ben. Well, truth of the matter is my entire band out in CA was quiet when I arrived....and now they're not so quiet..... Maybe its some sort of weird pheramone.

Thought of the day: Its not my fault.
Its one of the things I'm working on. I can't blame myself for everything that isn't perfect, and just because something isn't perfect doesn't mean that its not ok. It was actually really refreshing today to go to school and be like "ok, this isn't totally my fault....sweet!!" Not that I'm trying to dodge responsibility for things, but I can't kill myself over it.

Taylor Swift- White Horse.....yup, you are actually a princess. That is all.

Song Lyrics

So for anyone who doesn't still know this, I still use AIM. Not fancy GAIM or Meebo, or anything like that, just plain AIM. Anyhow, I used to be very confused with some people's away messages. It seriously took me at least a week or so with some people I'm friends with on AIM to realize that their away messages had gone away from any semblance of something sensical to song lyrics. Now, perhaps their lyrics are related to their life/mood/whatever, but I don't ask. Don't ask don't tell, right?

While I'm on the whole away message subject, it really grinds my gears when people don't put up any sort of away message. I mean it takes like 3 seconds to put up "I'm away from my computer right now" I'm going to time it.....ready......go. Yup 3, maybe 4 seconds, but I mis-clicked twice. Should it be a big deal? No, but I kind of think of it like someone putting you on hold. Wouldn't you be ticked as heck if you were on the phone with the cable company saying "hey, I think that my bill is wrong, can we look at charges from January-February?" and then listened and got absolutely nothing? Now granted wandering off for a bit happens, but when you're gone for like 20+ hours at a time, come now people. I'm not trying to be all stalkerish, but seriously people.

In other news, I picked up a book at Barnes and Noble today. The Feel Good Handbook. Its got some really good stuff in it. It kind of freaked me out at first because the first page I opened to and read was describing me perfectly. It was more than a little scary, but I took it as a sign that I need to read it. Hopefully by the end of Lent I'll be a changed Murphy.

Lastly for tonight, Lenten news. I'm Catholic, and therefore known for giving up things for Lent. In High School once, Brian O'Neill and I gave up our virginity for Lent. (Don't worry, it was just funny nerd-talk) I gave up fast food and soda last year as part of my weight loss. This year, I'm not giving anything up. Nothing at all. Instead what I'm doing is going to church at least twice a week, weekly confession, and actually taking care of myself. The last part might sound rediculous, but I put everything in my life before my own well being. I mean I don't have a family doctor (haven't since 2003), dentist, optomitrist, I don't sleep all through the night (although that is for quasi-selfish reasons), I eat more junk than I really should. Add to that I have this weird "I'm going to die at age 26" thing (seriously, its this deep down feeling that I've had since I was about 10) and it can be a little scary to be John Murphy. So I decided that its time to take care of myself so I don't die. Thats all kiddies.

(Band Festival this week....think I'm getting a 2...)