(no subject)
Ahem, yes ... is this thing on? Righto.
So by popular demand (or, maybe it was just Rachael) I've decided to update. Things got crazy and busy over in England, so I'm afraid I fell a little out of touch. Which, was all fine as I knew I was getting to come home shortly for an awesome break. I won't go into that, since basically my break consisted of family and you all. Though I will say that it was every bit as awesome as I was hoping. Things were more smooth at home than they've ever been, and ya'll (I decided last summer I really like this word--unlike "you guys" it's gender-neutral) did a perfect job of keeping me sane, as usual. I even wouldn't have minded a couple more days around town, but at nearly two weeks, things were in that "sweet spot" for staying home. Sticking around for three and I just get too edgy. But yes, home was great. Hmm, I had a lot of thoughts about leaving London. Three months is just enough time to start settling in to a place, so I felt like I was leaving a lot of loose ends and whatnot. Anyway, I've written more than's worth writing about this in my journal. The conclusion? Joni Mitchell sums it up pretty well:
Sitting in a park in Paris, France
Reading the news and it sure looks bad
They won’t give peace a chance
That was just a dream some of us had
Still a lot of lands to see
But I wouldn’t want to stay here
It’s too old and cold and settled in it’s ways here
Oh, but California
California I’m coming home
I’m going to see the folks I dig
I’ll even kiss a sunset pig
California I’m coming home
I met a redneck on a grecian isle
Who did the goat dance very well
He gave me back my smile
But he kept my camera to sell
Oh the rogue, the red red rogue
He cooked good omelettes and stews
And I might have stayed on with him there
But my heart cried out for you, california
Oh california I’m coming home
Oh make me feel good rock’n roll band
I’m your biggest fan
California, I’m coming home
Oh it gets so lonely
When you’re walking
And the streets are full of strangers
All the news of home you read
Just gives you the blues
Just gives you the blues
So I bought me a ticket
Hopped on a plane to Spain
Went to a party down a red dirt road
There were lots of pretty people there
Reading rolling stone, reading vogue
They said, how long can you hang around?
I said a week, maybe two,
Just until my skin turns brown
Then I’m going home to California
California I’m coming home
Oh will you take me as I am
Strung out on another man
California I’m coming home
Well, I'm not strung out on another man. But I did see somebody reading Rolling Stone at a party in Sweden. Unfortunately things are never quite as romantic as songs, and I've been greeted back to Los Angeles with a solid week of rain! It feels like monsoon season out here. Luckily Pasdena is flat, so we haven't had any terrible natural disasters nearby. Just people who can't drive in the rain. Apart from the rain, this past week has consisted completely of classes and catching up with people. It's certainly a slower-paced life around here, and I'm slowly remembering how to entertain myself. London just always has _so_ much happening, you never have to be very creative in deciding how to spend your time. I don't think that's a good way to live for too long, really. Though, maybe it's something you get over if you live there for longer. I've got this cooking arrangement going with some buddies of mine who live on the back end of my apartment complex. In a few weeks when it starts warming up I'll probably do some gardening. I've been reaquainting myself with the trombone, and all that entails. I plan to seek out many new books in the near future, any suggestions? Especially poetry? Also, I plan to work like mad in all of my classes, which, by the way, are
Ma109, Topology & Geometry (Differential Geometry)
Ma123, Classification of Simple Lie Algebras
An23, Physical & Evolutionary Anthropology
either CNS/Bi/Psy 131, Learning & Motivation
or Ph129, Mathematical Methods of Physics (Group Theory)
This makes for a pretty nice schedule: two classes each day of the week. The only bummer is the Friday 3-4 meeting of Ma123, which, will just have to missed sometimes, 'cause that's the way it is.
I found this on my friend Tyson's Xanga:
Sort of interesting, because with the exception of Stravinsky, the composers I like are the ones with orientations close to mine. I don't know what they're basing this on, but most of them make sense. Well, I don't know so much about Stravinsky, but authoritarian right would not have been my first guess. But fascist or not, Stravinsky will have his "Firebird" Suite performed by the Caltech-Occidental Symphony Orchestra. I don't know what our conductor is thinking. We'll see how that goes.
Well, another goal of mine this term is to sleep a lot.
So by popular demand (or, maybe it was just Rachael) I've decided to update. Things got crazy and busy over in England, so I'm afraid I fell a little out of touch. Which, was all fine as I knew I was getting to come home shortly for an awesome break. I won't go into that, since basically my break consisted of family and you all. Though I will say that it was every bit as awesome as I was hoping. Things were more smooth at home than they've ever been, and ya'll (I decided last summer I really like this word--unlike "you guys" it's gender-neutral) did a perfect job of keeping me sane, as usual. I even wouldn't have minded a couple more days around town, but at nearly two weeks, things were in that "sweet spot" for staying home. Sticking around for three and I just get too edgy. But yes, home was great. Hmm, I had a lot of thoughts about leaving London. Three months is just enough time to start settling in to a place, so I felt like I was leaving a lot of loose ends and whatnot. Anyway, I've written more than's worth writing about this in my journal. The conclusion? Joni Mitchell sums it up pretty well:
Sitting in a park in Paris, France
Reading the news and it sure looks bad
They won’t give peace a chance
That was just a dream some of us had
Still a lot of lands to see
But I wouldn’t want to stay here
It’s too old and cold and settled in it’s ways here
Oh, but California
California I’m coming home
I’m going to see the folks I dig
I’ll even kiss a sunset pig
California I’m coming home
I met a redneck on a grecian isle
Who did the goat dance very well
He gave me back my smile
But he kept my camera to sell
Oh the rogue, the red red rogue
He cooked good omelettes and stews
And I might have stayed on with him there
But my heart cried out for you, california
Oh california I’m coming home
Oh make me feel good rock’n roll band
I’m your biggest fan
California, I’m coming home
Oh it gets so lonely
When you’re walking
And the streets are full of strangers
All the news of home you read
Just gives you the blues
Just gives you the blues
So I bought me a ticket
Hopped on a plane to Spain
Went to a party down a red dirt road
There were lots of pretty people there
Reading rolling stone, reading vogue
They said, how long can you hang around?
I said a week, maybe two,
Just until my skin turns brown
Then I’m going home to California
California I’m coming home
Oh will you take me as I am
Strung out on another man
California I’m coming home
Well, I'm not strung out on another man. But I did see somebody reading Rolling Stone at a party in Sweden. Unfortunately things are never quite as romantic as songs, and I've been greeted back to Los Angeles with a solid week of rain! It feels like monsoon season out here. Luckily Pasdena is flat, so we haven't had any terrible natural disasters nearby. Just people who can't drive in the rain. Apart from the rain, this past week has consisted completely of classes and catching up with people. It's certainly a slower-paced life around here, and I'm slowly remembering how to entertain myself. London just always has _so_ much happening, you never have to be very creative in deciding how to spend your time. I don't think that's a good way to live for too long, really. Though, maybe it's something you get over if you live there for longer. I've got this cooking arrangement going with some buddies of mine who live on the back end of my apartment complex. In a few weeks when it starts warming up I'll probably do some gardening. I've been reaquainting myself with the trombone, and all that entails. I plan to seek out many new books in the near future, any suggestions? Especially poetry? Also, I plan to work like mad in all of my classes, which, by the way, are
Ma109, Topology & Geometry (Differential Geometry)
Ma123, Classification of Simple Lie Algebras
An23, Physical & Evolutionary Anthropology
either CNS/Bi/Psy 131, Learning & Motivation
or Ph129, Mathematical Methods of Physics (Group Theory)
This makes for a pretty nice schedule: two classes each day of the week. The only bummer is the Friday 3-4 meeting of Ma123, which, will just have to missed sometimes, 'cause that's the way it is.
I found this on my friend Tyson's Xanga:
Sort of interesting, because with the exception of Stravinsky, the composers I like are the ones with orientations close to mine. I don't know what they're basing this on, but most of them make sense. Well, I don't know so much about Stravinsky, but authoritarian right would not have been my first guess. But fascist or not, Stravinsky will have his "Firebird" Suite performed by the Caltech-Occidental Symphony Orchestra. I don't know what our conductor is thinking. We'll see how that goes.
Well, another goal of mine this term is to sleep a lot.