Trickle Drops

Explosions in the Sky

2008-04-05T17:21:00.004-05:00

On April 1st I saw Explosions in the Sky. I'd first discovered them about six months ago, while watching Austin City Limits. I can't even remember the group that I actually tuned in to see. Explosions was the following act. I'd never heard of them, but the lead guitarrist kind of charmed me when he said something along the lines of, "Thank you, thank you, thank you a million times for watching. We're Explosions in the Sky."

They didn't speak another word the entire following half hour. All of their thoughts and emotions were put into the gorgeous, moving, glorious music they played. I was captivated and moved and couldn't get to my computer fast enough after the show to find out who these men were. I Wiki'd them and discovered they'd been around for years and had recently released their fourth album.

A few months ago, I discovered they'd be coming to Chicago, and bought two tickets immediately. I went with my brother-in-law. Seeing them perform live was extraordinary. They are magnificent. I didn't take my eyes from them for a second. They live and breathe the music they play, and though they played for hours and were clearly exhausted when they left the stage, the concert ended way too soon for me.

If you enjoy instrumental post-rock, don't hesitate to check this group out. The link above is to one of my favorite songs by them.

B+???

2006-12-14T12:38:00.000-06:00

They say not to be upset at the missed words, but this is embarrassing. And the annoying thing about this test is that it doesn't let us know what words we actually missed. However, I do know that I defined "phlegmatic" and "masticate" incorrectly.

Your Vocabulary Score: B+

You have a zealous love for the English language, and many find your vocabulary edifying.
Don't fret that you didn't get every word right, your vocabulary can be easily ameliorated!

How's Your Vocabulary?

Update: Summer School, Life, etc.

2006-05-27T20:45:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone. I have been out of touch for a few weeks. Well, let's see . . . Spring semester went quite well. I actually put together a pretty cool assignment for my Bestseller's class: Check it out if you're interested.

My semester basically ended on a Friday and I had a weekend off, and my first term of Summer school began that Monday. I took two workshop-type classes for Term I: Rare Book Librarianship and The History of the Book. The classes were taught by a visiting scholar, named Sidney Berger, who is THE premier, elite, famous, freaking best thing since sliced bread on these topics. I couldn't believe I was in the same room with this man. He is a GOD of rare book librarianship. Each class was for three hours, everyday for two weeks. I had a free weekend between them, but I had two term papers, a midterm, and a final exam, so that weekend was spent with non-stop research and writing. But I think I did pretty well in the classes. Let's hope so!

I have two weeks off before Summer Term II begins, but I'm only taking one class for that, so it should be better. Oh, and the class lasts for two months rather than two weeks, so it shouldn't be as intense.

Ok, I'm going to the best Library Science school in the country, so it's not like I expected this to be easy, but seriously. This degree is kicking my butt.

If anyone would like to meet for Happy Hour this Friday, I'd love that.

Spring Semester

2006-01-16T10:08:00.000-06:00

School starts this week, and I'm not looking forward to it. Last semester kicked my butt, and this one will not be any easier. But, hey, I need the training if I want to be a librarian, so I have to go through this veil of tears. ugh.

This semester I'm taking my second, required survey course, which will focus on intellectual freedom, the Patriot Act, the Post Office, etc.

I'm taking a class that is combined with the English Dept., and is on 20th Century bestsellers. The theme is: Christianity's influence on 20th Century America. I'll be creating bibliographies and writing critical reviews, etc. on these books. Our first book was written in 1906. Thomas Dixon, Jr.'s The One Woman. I've been reading it to try get a head start, and it's about a Congregational priest who is also a socialist and his trials and tribulations with the other, more conservative deacons and members in the church. Because of my background in studying 19th century Unitarians, I'm familiar with Christian Socialists, so this is well-traveled ground for me. Oh, and also this priest is married to a conservative woman, but has fallen in love with one of his "comrades," so there's that issue. Hence, the book's title.

My other class is advanced Cataloging. WooHoo!

But there is one exciting development this semester: I've been approved for a Practicum, in which I will do original cataloging for some artifacts at the Krannert Museum. I've seen the art pieces and they range from Native American tools, to Chinese silks, to African sculpture, to Attic Vases. This is going to be important experience, plus just sheer awesomeness.

So let the semester begin.

It's been awhile

2005-11-12T09:14:00.000-06:00

Good Lord! I said last July that I'd be posting here, and I've not touched it since, except to delete two lame spammers.

So here I am. I don't have time to keep a Blog. I just asked for Sabbatical from the Prairie Flame. Life has been sucking the big one since I began school. I'm not sorry I started school, but damn. I know nothing about Library Science. I'm frantically trying to keep my head above water.

Ok, enough griping. I don't know if this Blog will ever come to anything, but I thought I'd at least post. Meanwhile, I'll enjoy my friends' blogs!

Peace!

First Entry

2005-07-08T15:58:00.000-05:00

I don't expect anyone to ever read this blog. I plan to use it as a combination diary/essay/autobiography. This is my space. Let's see what comes of it.