Joe and I watched Anchorman last night. He’d never seen it–it was so funny, even though I’d seen it a million times before. Stuff is always funnier when you’re watching it with someone who hasn’t seen it before.
I love lamp.
I love Steve Carell.
I’m kind of a big deal. People know me. I have many leather bound books…my apartment smells of rich mahogany…
I finished the project for Jody! Ok, it’s not really
for him directly, it’s for YLFC, but he will be singing the songs I
transcribed and wrote string parts for, so it is for him…kinda
I feel a great sense of accomplishment after finishing a big
project like that—but that’s just built in to my personality. I am a
goal-setter and accomplisher. I love accomplishing even the smallest of tasks
that I’ve set out to do. I’ve posted about it before in regards to my strengths
and all of that…but needless to say, it feels great.
I also took a trip out to Riverside
to hear some of the arrangements I did for the Male Chorale at California Baptist University.
They were having their rehearsal camp this weekend, so Christy, Nathaniel and I
got to go listen (Noah stayed home with respite care). The most fulfilling part
of writing/arranging music to hear it performed live after putting it all on
the page. I was jazzed to spend a couple hours listening to them rehearse. I
also picked up last year’s Male Chorale CD, containing my arrangement of Tommy
Walker’s Prepare Ye the Way. They
actually titled the CD Make a Way—which is part of that song, so that was cool.
It must have been a big part of their rep last year, and I think they’re doing
it again this year as well.
We also got to hear a little bit of their University Choir
& Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Gary Bonner. They were great. Christy
and I both came away from that evening refreshed. It was fun to just hear some
great music. Really fun. It filled us up. We’re planning on going to MusicQuest
in February 2007—a choral music seminar. It’s awesome because forty music
directors just read through 70-80 choir songs in two days, looking for new
stuff for our choirs. It’s fun to just sing with a bunch of other people who
can sing too…
Going to Chick-Fil-A tonight with the family. The kids love
it there, and I think Tuesday night is family night.
I have had a tiny bit of pain in my right wrist for a few months now. I think it is the result of two (TWO!!) broken wrists–broken in the same place, of course–as a child and the seventeen million hours per day that I use the mouse working at APU and on music stuff at home.
So, on the advice of my blog-silent friend Mike, I am using my left hand to operate the mouse for a while. This will give the right wrist a little break.
It is a challenge, but not all that impossible, AND it is interesting…
I’ll chate more later. I’m waist-deep in getting ready for my first week at Christ-First Baptist and finishing the last transcription for Jody McBrayer.
On that note, who wants to go to Yorba Linda Friends with us this Saturday night to hear my arrangements? Anyone?
There is no greater tragedy in human nature than the condition of selfishness.
I was totally berated by a Cast Member at Disneyland
last night for not using a crosswalk properly. It was appalling. Not only was
it completely belittling and inappropriate behavior for any employee of ANY
company, it was DISNEY! Isn’t this supposed to be the Happiest Place on Earth? Yeah, not for me; not last
night. This dude seriously talked down to me like a drunk man abusing his 5
year old kid, saying things like “That’s
what all the signs are for” and “open
your eyes”. Of course, upon my
return after cooling off, I inquired about who his supervisor was and he gave
me some bag-o-crap story about how everyone is switching right now and he
really has four or five supervisors, etc…yeah right. I emailed Disney. We’ll
see how they respond.
I got a sweet gig for Yorba Linda Friends. Jody
McBrayer is coming on Labor Day, and they need six of the songs off the new
(and not yet released) Avalon album for him to perform on that weekend. One guy
is doing three, and I’m going to try and get the other three
transcribed/arranged. I’m so stoked.
My new church job already seems awesome. I haven’t even
started yet…
I got the job!
I just got a call from the Senior Pastor at this place and he told me that the council voted unanimously in favor of hiring me. Technically, this is an interim position, but the Pastor has made it abundantly clear that he would like to see me around for a long time. We chatted about it today, and he clarified that at the end of the interim period it will be basically up to me whether or not to stay on, based on how we think God is leading us. Awesome.
Oh yeah, and Sunday was great! I think this church really hits the spot for Christy and I. There are not many places where we would be able to find the great combination of this and that—(insert boring details)–that really offers the programs and opportunities to use our unique giftings in a relevant way that connects with 5 generations of people. This church has that crazy wide spectrum, and it was also very fun. I’m having a great time teaming with this Pastor. This dude moves. He acts on things. He does stuff he says he’ll do. He prepares and is incredibly organized. These are all things that I do, and so, we connect–well.
I ordered a bunch of choir music today. Anybody that would like to come sing is welcome. Thursday nights, starting Aug 31st…you know you want to….
I’ll also be starting to use an orchestra. Christy on trombone, this other dude on Alto Sax, and possibly Heodi Simone…you’re invited…
I got a great haircut!
I went to the Dentist, I have a filling…
BUT, I also have awesome grades at school:
Yes, that IS a 4.0 grade point average.
I love having my iTunes on shuffle. I never ever thought I would like it, since I
usually am very particular about what I’m listening to, but it is just pulling
up random tracks and its great. David Crowder here, John Williams there; a
little Coldplay and a little Danny Elfman…it’s great! I tell you what, I can’t
believe Titanic won best score in 1998 (in March, for films made in 1997). I listened to a track recently and was
thinking to myself “this? THIS?!!?! THIS is what we thought was the best in
1998! Holy cow!” It was dismal. So synth-y and simple. I think we were all just
caught up in the emotion of the movie, darn you Leonardo DiCaprio!
Choir at Christ-First Baptist last night was great. The
night began as a more formal meet/greet event. Christy and I sang, I talked
about our life journey, and they asked questions—good, difficult questions.
After that, we did a choir practice with the folks who were there for choir. I
was surprised at how good they were—I picked songs from their library, but it
turned out they still hadn’t necessarily sung them before. Oh well…they picked
them up pretty fast. It was a very fun time for me, and I’m hoping they enjoyed
it as well.
So, I found that the process is going like this—I had my
initial talks with the Pastor, I met with the staff for an informal meet/greet,
then I did an interview with a council (I forget which one…), then we had the
rehearsals last night and Wednesday night, leading the services on Sunday, and
there’s a meeting with their Staff Relations committee to make the decision to
hire me or not. So I should know after that…thanks for all your prayers!
I need a haircut-BAD. I need a place where there is a
stylist who KNOWS who Ryan Seacrest is and could cut my hair in that style. I
hate buzzers, they give my hair an army look…no thank you. I need razors for
styling and scissors for cutting. I need help. HELP! Where can I go?
Thanks for your prayers, last night was great. I had a fun
time with the friendly group at Christ-First. They seemed to be pretty open to
whatever I had going on, and everything seemed to go well. I had fun and it was
great to be giving musical direction again. We’ll see how tonight’s Chancel
Choir rehearsal goes…these people are like 70 years old, and from what I hear,
pretty tough critics. I’ll have to bring out the ol’ charm…
Also, they had these awesome burritos in the caf
today—chipotle style. I loved it. Best lunch I’ve had there in a long time…it’s
the little things…
I have until Monday to finish the opener for Judd—I should
get it done in time. Also, I did some re-vamping of my arrangement of He Reigns
for Rod and APU’s University Choir & Orchestra, and he wants to use it for
this year! Sweet! I’ll have to go over and hear it when they start rehearsing
next week.
Don’t forget about Nertz on Sunday…
EDIT ADD:
Hey- just got word that I got the Irvine gig! Yipee! I’m really looking forward to it!
iTunes just put up some playlists for the 90′s–year by year. You can follow this link (if you have iTunes) and go check out like 75 songs that were hits or whatever for EACH YEAR in the 90′s. I kinda think that’s awesome–and I have a $7 credit on iTunes…
Tonight I am leading a rehearsal for the worship team at the new church. You guys can pray for me. It will be fun and exciting, but I don’t want to go in there feeling like I know everything and all of that…I’m also smart enough to know not to try and make it just like Midway was when I left (at least, at first). Through this trial period (interim period) I am going to spend my time getting to know people and building relationships with the folks in the music ministry–not just trying to change a bunch of stuff. Anyways-pray for me-thanks.
I also am excited to start school again in mid-September at CSULA. I think this quarter I’m going to take Music Business and Songwriting. I’ve never been a good lyricist, so that second one scares the pants off me, but it should be a good growing experience. I’m really looking forward to it.
I haven’t heard back from the Irvine job yet. The price I quoted them was a little higher than they are used to paying, but the guy who has been doing it was an alumni of the university, so he gave them a break. We’ll see if I get a call back and what they counter-offer (if that even happens).
Oh yeah-here’s another Pat & Oscars coupon…I’d use it but there’s not really one close to me anymore (*sob*). Have a breadstick for me…![coupon1[1]](http://x6c.xanga.com/70aa474a2343072763233/z49009082.gif)
So, Nertz at my place on Sunday night at 7PM? Who’s with me?
Did I mention that I love Talladega Nights? Yeah well, I do.
Noah has been incredibly different these past few days. He
has made more eye contact, he has responded to instruction better, he’s done
all kinds of things that made us think to ourselves “What has been different
about the past three days that would cause such a dramatic difference?” We
finally discovered that there were two foods we had been giving him a LOT of that had gluten in them (and he hadn’t had them in
the past few days). We had been giving him Puffins, which said “wheat-free” on
the box—but come to find out there was still gluten in them from something
else. In addition, he loves fruit snacks, but we also found out that they
sprinkle flour on packaged candies like that to keep them from sticking
together BUT they don’t have to list it on the package because technically it
is not an ingredient. Whatever, that’s stupid. So, no more Puffins or Fruit
Snacks for Noah—he is amazingly different and better even in the last few days.
Let’s not forget the therapy, though—I don’t want to sound
like only the food is making a difference. He has been pretty consistent in his
therapy and is accomplishing quite a bit through it all. We are extremely
grateful for our therapists who are doing a great job, and for you who have
supported Noah’s therapy financially. Thank you for your support! I can’t wait
to share his improvements with you!
I was privileged enough to play piano this Saturday night at
Yorba Linda Friends Church.
Seriously, it’s like playing for a rock show—not because of the song style, but
because of the caliber of musicians. These guys are all professionals,
including the singers. The times that I have played piano there are really some
of the highlights of my piano playing life. I love it. Even though I’ll be
doing a new church job in Covina
and won’t be able to go on Sundays anymore, I told the musical director to call
me if he ever needed someone to sub in on a Saturday night, and he said he
totally would. YES!
I am getting very excited about Christ-First
Baptist Church
in Covina. I
have been corresponding with some of the staff and worship team folks over
there, and so far everyone has been very supportive and helpful. I am looking
forward to leading worship there this weekend and working with their choir and
worship team.
I started reading this book (see “Currently Reading”). I
like it so far. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book like this, and I think
I will enjoy it very much.
It’s been an eventful weekend. I took Mike to the airport at
430AM on Sunday and on the way back got a flat tire. I haven’t actually really
ever changed a tire before (I know, I’m a little too old for that to be the
case). So I did it. It took longer than it would for someone else probably, but
it got done. However, the spare was also flat, so I put it on anyways and drove
at approx. 5MPH to the closest gas station to fill it up with air. I think by
then it was about 6AM. What a growing experience.
