Show your Valentine that you really care. Use a condom.

MAN this weekend was exhausting. I really don't know where to begin. We had Trombone Day on Saturday, so that was a pretty big deal.

Friday, I got to sleep in because there was no Theory. Sleeping in is always a plus. So, waking up at 10:45, I strolled over to Anthropology sat through another boring lecture. And then, at noon, I was free! I went and grabbed some lunch before heading over to the Performing Arts Center (PAC) to get out my horn and practice before a lesson with Tom Riccobono, a renowned trombone player visiting for the weekend.


Tom Riccobono


He's an extremely nice guy, and in the short amount of time I spent in the lesson (Only thirty minutes), he taught me quite a bit about how to better my breathing and tonguing technique.
After my lesson, I went down to the lobby and began constructing my BRAND NEW BASS TROMBONE.

I met with the guy from Sheridan Brass, and we began picking out slides, leadpipes, bells, valves, mouthpieces, tuning slides... Basically, building a trombone from the ground up. My parents arrived shortly afterwards, and we spent a good two hours mixing and matching until we got one that everybody thought sounded great.

Eventually, we decided on a horn with a gold alloy coating, a B1 1Y bell, a 2G mouthpiece, and a Tru-Bore valve system.


Not mine, but a Tru-Bore valve with a B1 1Y bell.


Overall, it was a very sexy (and expensive) horn. I got to really play on it that evening at the dress rehearsal and the difference was astounding. It sounded great and it played very well.

After the dress rehearsal, I went to have an amazing dinner with family and some family friends in town. It was a great dinner, and I ended up going to bed early.
I woke up the next morning at 8:00, and I headed over to the PAC to get ready for Trombone Day.

There were some warm-ups, some master classes, blah blah, nothing that exciting. Got some Mexican food with my family for lunch, and then back to the PAC. The afternoon is when things started to get exciting. Mark Mullins, the principle trombonist for the band Bonerama, gave a masterclass and showed off some of his electronic gear.



Mark Mullins.


Yes, electronic gear. You see that mic connected to his bell? It goes to a gateway connected to a floorboard with a Wah-Wah pedal and a Harmonizer, leading out to an amp. Essentially, an electric trombone. It was awesome.


Here's an example.

And then, a little after two, there were some concerts. First, Tom Riccobono performed for us, mostly classical etudes and such. It was great. And then, Mark Mullins played with the Hub Bones, playing some jazz, funk, and rock. It was amazing.
After the concerts, we rehearsed again for the final concert, and then dismissed for dinner.

My parents and I went to Raising Cane's for some chicken fingers before going back to campus. There, we got ready for the final performance, featuring both guest artists, the USM trombone choir, the USM Hub Bones, and the festival choir of all the trombone players that came up for the day. It sounded great, and everyone liked it.



The Trombone Choir playing with the festival choir for the last piece. Try to find me!


Afterwards, we cleaned up and went back to our rooms. I got to talk a bit to both the guest artists some more, which was neat, but I ended up going to bed fairly early again.

The next morning, Sunday, I woke up at ten to go get some breakfast with the parents before they headed home. We went to IHOP and had a pretty great meal. But they left and I went on my way. I did some homework, but then I went over to Gamestop and picked up Left 4 Dead 2. I've been playing that since. It's a great game.


EDIT: Oh, and the title. I'm sure you're wondering about that. In the Hub, they had a table giving out condoms to promote safe sex for Valentine's day. Not very funny in itself, but the sign they had said what's quoted in the title. It made me and my friends laugh.

I lol'd.

A quick little funny story.

I went to log on to /b/, but found out that the IP was banned- someone else at the school had done something stupid and ruined it for everyone. However, there is a "Contest ban" form at the bottom.

Well, this is what was there:

"This IP is from University of Southern Mississippi wireless internet for students. Any of several thousand students could be using it on any given day. Please unban. Thanks.
(Update) This ban was placed on me as well. for the same reason.
(Update 2) I am also affected by this ban.

Original offender here, I would still like to know when this spamming happened if possible. And to the USM students who keep checking this. Problem, Golden Eagles? *trollface*

Update: Original offender is an awesome bro doing the students of USM a favor.

Update: Successful troll is successful?"


Successful troll is VERY successful.

Said Sytherin, "We'll teach just those whose ancestry is purest."

Thursdays are blah. Especially when it's cold, wet and dreary like today is.

Some things I thought I'd let you all know:

Regarding the title of this post, I recently found an AWESOME Hogwarts House test. It's pretty in-depth, and instead of just saying which House you'd be in, it gives you percentages of each house, so you can compare.

My scores?
Slytherin - 79
Ravenclaw - 73
Gryffindor - 65
Hufflepuff - 50

It's pretty close to how I imagined it, so hurray. Here's the link, if you'd like to take it, too. Tell me your results! :D

Another kickass Harry Potter resource, while we're on the subject:

The Parselmouth

It's a website that lets you put in any word, and it TRANSLATES IT TO PARSELTONGUE and then plays it back to you. It's useless, but that's what makes it awesome.


Also, the Brawl tourney is going to start tonight, and it'll last throughout all of February. The rules are as follows, copied from Crim's blog:

*3 STOCK
*LOW ITEMS
*NO HAMMERS/GOLD HAMMERS
*SPAMMING MOVES OR STAGES AND LEDGE GRABBING ARE FROWNED UPON
*TAUNT AT YOUR OWN RISK
*PLEASE TRACK YOU AND YOUR OPPONENT'S NUMBER OF LIVES AT THE END OF A MATCH AND TELL ME
*YOU WILL FACE EVERYONE TWICE BY THE END OF FEBRUARY
*WIN BY SUICIDE MOVES WILL BE CONSIDERED A LOSS IF YOU BOTH HAD ONE LIFE
*ANNOUNCE A SP GRANDE MATCH AT THE CHATZY FIRST!
*YOU CANNOT DO BOTH MATCHES AGAINST SOMEONE IN THE SAME WEEK

Pretty meh rules, but definitely do-able. Personally, I'd like no items except for the Smash Ball, and move-spamming and ledge grabbing are both techniques that are easily avoided, so I don't see why they'd need a specific mention. Other than that, it's going to be a pretty alright tourney, I think.

The participants:
Crim
Isaac
Kat
Ang
Argol
Nights
Davidio
Crimshad
Fridge(Will possibly try)


I'll try to do one or two of my matches tonight, so expect another post later.


Last thing: Tomorrow I start getting ready for Trombone Day. And my family is coming to visit. D'awww.

Have a good Thursday!


-David

But he never expected the ninja to vanish... With his heart.

Today has been an alright day so far.

I actually woke up and STAYED AWAKE, meaning that I could get breakfast BEFORE noon today! It was wonderful. Theory was boring, Anthropology was boring, then in the hour between that and piano, I had to sort out some problems that the School of Music was having with me.

If you failed to turn in all of your marching band uniform before a specified deadline, they'd put your account on Hold and charge you a late fee. I think it's pretty reasonable. But when I turn in everything A MONTH BEFORE THE DEADLINE and they STILL put my account on hold and charge me, I get kind of pissed off. >:|
I talked to them about it, and they said "They'd check."
Man, screw them.

Piano was piano. I should probably start practicing more, but eh. I really don't feel like it. Oh well.

After piano, I went to Subway and got the most delicious sub: A footlong on Italian Herbs and Cheese bread with Roast Beef, Pepperonis, Bacon, Monteray Jack cheese, Mustard, Mayo, Jalapeños, cucumbers, pickles, spinach, and tomatoes. Om nom nom. I also got some Barbecue chips (Lays, of course) for later and some Vault. Awesome meal.

And now, I'm debating starting on my Theory project, registering all the crap I need to register for Anthropology, or working out OTHER things. Hurray for too much to do!
And on a side note, still no word (yet) on the Jonathan Coulton concert. Hmmm. It's starting to look iffy.

Upcoming events:
-This weekend is Trombone Day. I'll be getting a private lesson with one of the guest artists on Friday (Hopefully with my new horn) and my family will be coming up for the weekend. Then busy all Saturday and I don't know what'll be going on Sunday. Some friends want to visit, but that's kind of a weird day. We'll have to see.

-Also, more on Operation: Zombie Apocalypse at Wal-Mart. Wally and Chis aren't in, but I still have Mosher and Macey saying they're willing to do it. It'll have to take place in the evening, because I'll spend the morning at the KOMM Mardi Gras Parade down in Point Clear. I think this Mardi Gras break will be spectacular.

-And then, we have Valentines Day after that. I won't be able so spend time with Rin, so I'll be participating in Operation: We've Got Love. I haven't made any plans yet, but eh. I'll think of something.
(Video for details can be found here)

-No word yet on the Brawl tourney.


So... yeah. I think that's all for now. Time to stop slacking and get busy doing SCHOOLWORK. Pfffft, as if.



-David

Third post's a charm...

Three posts in one day? What is this madness?

Well... I need money. :|

Things coming up that I'll need to spend money on:
-February 12-15: Going home for Mardi Gras. ~$25 for gas, and then maybe another $15 for spending while in town. Total = $40
-BEFORE February 15: Tickets for DragonCon this fall, $70. The price goes up to $80 after the 15th, so I'll need to get them soon. More info on DragonCon later. Total = $110
-March 4: Jonathan Coulton and They Might Be Giants IN CONCERT in Birmingham. I'll only be going to this if friends go, and that whole situation is complicated* so I don't know. Tickets are $21 (!!!!!) and then there's gas and food money, which would probably be about less than or equal to $30 (Assuming people can all chip in for gas, the more friends that go, the less I spend). Total = ~$150

Blargh.


*It's at 7:00pm on a Thursday night, and I have class until 2:00- I'd have to leave pretty much right after class because it's ~4 hours to get to Birmingham from Hattiesburg. Not too bad, right? Well, like I said, the only way I'll be able to go is if friends can go, too. I've asked a few friends and none of them are interested. Well, none of my COLLEGE friends, at least. Cleveland and Wally might be able to go, but that presents even MORE complications because they are STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL. So this one might be a no-go. Sigh.



Oh well. Enough complaining for now.


-David

Dohohoho!

So, I think that Concert band is going to alright. Today was our first rehearsal, and I don't even care that it sounded terrible. I got to make two "Statler and Waldorf"-esque jokes, just like back at Fairhope.

The first one was after reading through a song called With Quiet Courage. When the song ended, I turned to Nathan next to me and said "The audience is going to need some courage to sit through THAT! Dohohoho!"

And then, later in the rehearsal, we played Rolling Thunder, which got a "Rolling Thunder? That was more of a Rolling BLUNDER if you ask me! Dohohoho!"




It was a good rehearsal.



-David

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Yes, that's right. Today is GROUNDHOG'S DAY.

Which means that after class is over this afternoon, I'm going to watch the movie "Groundhog Day" this evening to celebrate. Hurray!

Now as for the actual event, there are some mixed news results as to whether or not we'll have more winter. Copied from the Huffington Post:

"Most local groundhogs did not see their shadows on Groundhog Day 2010, even though the most famous one of all did.

Punxsutawney Phil's Groundhog Day 2010 prediction was six more weeks of winter, as he did see his shadow.

But how about Buckeye Chuck, Staten Island Chuck, Jimmy The Groundhog, and General Lee Groundhog?

None of them saw their shadows."


Now, I've never even HEARD of any of those other guys, but some research shows that they've all got quite a following in their home states. But, who cares, right? Punx Phil saw his shadow AND THAT'S WHAT MATTERS, DAMN IT.


Also, I got to sleep in this morning, which was a nice Groundhog's Day treat- Aural Skills was cancelled, Dr. Tychinski is out of town so I didn't have a lesson, and then Recital class wasn't until 11. It was nice to actually get some sleep (for once).

And that's why I love Groundhog's Day.



Coming up: Operation: Zombie Apocalypse at Wal Mart.
All the details are here, and I'm hoping to amass quite a showing at the Fairhope Wal-Mart. So far, I have Macey and Cleve in on it, but we haven't made any plans yet. If any of my Fairhope friends read this and want to participate, let me know.


That is all.
Happy Groundhog's Day, everyone!



-David