Coffee Gnosis

I do not make very good coffee. I just figured that out. If anyone knows how to make really good coffee with a French press, feel free to share the knowledge with me. I'm sure this has to do with proportion. Considering that I typically just dump coffee into the press without measuring, I think that may be the root of my issues. But it's an insult to decency everywhere that I, who enjoys coffee, cannot brew a proper cup. I need help.



I'm fuming about the Twins. Fuming.



That's all for now.

Season 5

A really non-creative title, but I just finished watching an episode of 24 Season 5, so it seemed to fit. I know it's a neo-con sex fantasy, I know Jack Bauer tap dances upon the Constitution while speaking in a rude tone of voice, I know that government computers aren't as colorful as the ones at CTU and phones don't really ring like that. All of this I know. But DAMN IT (said in a Jack Bauer tone of voice), it's just so GOOD.



In other news, I had a very pleasant break. Thanksgiving was good, I had much turkey and other festive food. I completed my goal of running the Turkey trot in less than a half and hour, and even defeated my dad by a few seconds. That actually was quite fun. My mom took me to Starbucks a few times, I had some laughs with friends, I worked a 13 hour day. Life was good. I purchased some things on BLACK FRIDAY, namely the aforementioned show, Season 7 of Seinfeld (which is hilarious), an external hard drive, and Good Night and Good Luck. Money I really don't have, but I was overcome with American materialism. It was sick, I sort of feel bad about it. But I saved money from the regular prices, and I actually did need the hard drive. Good thing I got to work 20 hours. Walgreens, you save my life.

I have a cough. Not a cold. A cough. But it won't go away. I'm a pretty easy-going guy, but it's starting to get a bit old. I'd just like to stop coughing. And according to Dr. Chang, there's really not a lot to do but let it run it's course. That irritates me.

Rage.

My senior paper, entitled A Rebirth of Freedom: Antifederalism and the Republican Party After the Ratification of the Constitution is officially done and turned in. Which is a great relief as well as a great freer-upper of time. Those hours spent in the depths of the library can now be used in the practice room, or watching Seinfeld. It's just so weird to not have a crushing load of work overburdening me. I leisurely ate dinner in my room tonight and leisurely took notes on my upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. and JFK paper. Then I leisurely sauntered over to the music building and practiced bass trombone, after which I leisurely talked to Mott and leisurely walked home again. Then I leisurely watched 24, and am now leisurely blogging while leisurely listening to the Empire Brass. It's nice.

I watched a full Youtube video of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech tonight. It was beautiful. I'm tired, so I won't get into it tonight, but that was a man who got it right. And his buddy JFK was on the road too.

I'm tired. I think I'll leisurely go to sleep.

Slight Diversion

Check out this somewhat funny Sports Center commercial featuring Minnesota's own Joe Mauer. Go Twins!

Quick Break

I've been writing my senior paper all afternoon. Surrounded by stacks and stacks of books on constitutional history, swimming in the collected papers of James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, eyeballs seemingly mesmerized by the black and white of Microsoft Word, I disappear into a world filled with antifederalists... dancing in top hats and coattails to "I Got Rhythm?"

Don't you hate it when you mix up your essay with your iPod playlist?

It's been one of those extraordinary days of productivity, so much so that when I returned here to my room to let my laptop recharge, I've fallen into a sea of unproductivity. It's like it has to equalize somehow. So I'm here, listening to Pink Floyd, wishing I wasn't out of milk, looking over my music history notes, and wondering whether I should push ahead with the senior paper or go see a play. Decisions, decisions. Or go practice. I should do that at some point.




Last night I made a consciously made a series of what can only be described as questionable life choices. Meaning, I sat around with my good friend, drank cheap beer, then went and played trombone drunk. If I recall there was also a 40 of malt liquor involved, and a garage. My best moment? No, probably not. But it was fun. I needed to loosen up a bit, I've just been so hammered with schoolwork this semester. And I woke up this morning and felt wonderful. No joke. Phil Hoesing was right, it's a good idea to eat nasty gas station food at 1 A.M. It was a good diversion for one night. We picked up Emily, and that was fun. She was probably a little frightened as she walked in on us trying to improvise on Cottontail or something, but whatever. It's all good.

Why would I share something so frivolous? Good question. I don't know.

I sometimes ponder why my life takes me where I go. Meaning, I was looking about Facebook today, and saw some photos of some of my old church friends from home. And it just got me thinking. What is that has taken me on a different path from them? Why am I the way I am while they're the way they are? It's sort of a stupid question, but whatever. I guess I feel like I've become a completely different individual in my college experience, while many have stayed the same. And that's not a bad thing. It's just, why did that happen? No idea. England surely has a part in it, surely my friends do too, surely do a lot of things I guess. I feel so detached from those back home. And I guess since England, I sort of do that on purpose, detach myself. I like the feeling that when people see me it's sort of exciting, since they haven't heard from or seen me in like 4 months. Maybe I like being the center of attention, but I don't think so. I think I've just become different.

California burger night in the caf tonight. Which is alright. The California burger used to be very good pre-Nottingham. Now it seems subpar. I would kill a homeless person for a Gregg's ham and cheese bake right now. But I don't think I will. I think I'll read about Mozart instead, and then go do something else. Hope everyone is doing well. T-minus 9 days until the big paper is done with and Thanksgiving break appears. Can't come soon enough.

Breeze

I feel today was the first day I would verifiably classify as chilly out. There was a rather intense wind out, so that definitely helped. But it also was just rather cold out. Cold enough to wear a scarf and coat. I took much pride in busting out my unicorn coat from Nottingham. Inevitably, it also brought out a little bit of sadness, as memories rushed back. Strange how a coat can do that. But, it's a coat with history. Oh English Gap, how I miss thee.

One thing I must say, we do here have an advantage over our English brethren. That is autumn. Autumn, like the whole season. Brilliantly colored leaves, decorative gourds, lame window clings, apple cider, etc, etc, etc. It's a cultural phenomenon that I didn't even realize missing until I'm back here. I've always been a sucker for nostalgic appeals to some sort of idealized reality. Basically, I'm a sucker for the lifestyle portrayed in L.L. Bean catalogs. You know, people dressed in plaid, wearing barn coats with fleece collars, walking around snowy New England with a sled. Or the Eddie Bauer catalog. I love Eddie Bauer, no doubt. As I was walking back from Jenson tonight after practicing trombone, I was thinking about the two weeks remaining to Thanksgiving break. First of all, I was trying to figure out how to finish my senior paper. Secondly, I started to think about Thanksgiving, being filled with family and food. My mouth started watering as I thought of the turkey and the gravy, along with everything else. I just got excited about the idea of relaxing. Then I started to think about our expatriate Thanksgiving last year at the flat with the Juggins. Man, so many memories.

Anyways, I'm drinking tea and watching the Food Network. It's this show called "Unwrapped," were Marc Summers (of What Would You Do? fame) tells us all about whatever the theme food is. Last episode was pie, and they started talking about meat pie. Which made me think about Gregg's in England. Which made me want to make a pasty. Which I'm going to attempt this weekend I think. It'll be awesome.

Anyways, to any potential Luther readers, make sure you come to the Concert Band homecoming concert tomorrow night (Tuesday) at 7:30 in the CFL. It really will be worth your time. It's going to be a good show. Marc Summers is stealing my attention. I have to go listen about fizzy apple drinks. Later.