I'm being published, quitting my job, moving in two weeks. No big deal.

I've gotten pretty skeptical in my old age. (I'm 26 now, you know.)

However, the expressions of sadness, much to my surprise, over my officially leaving Axcan have seemed genuine around here lately. I don't expect a last hoorah (nothing could compare to the night of craziness that happened when Luis left), but I have to admit it's been nice to have a few people tell me "Don't go!"

That's not even important right now, though. Nothing is as important as the bomb I'm about to drop on this metaphorical Hiroshima (what, too soon?). Tomorrow, on the most glorious of Fridays, a quiz that I co-wrote will be published on my favorite magazine's website. www. Mentalfloss.com

You may recall, from my last post, a coincidental meeting with David on facebook. (again, not so much coincidental, as I did ask him to be my friend on purpose. )Well he collaborated with me to help me get an in with the_floss, and I am grateful. I'm excited to see my name in print once again, because it has. been. a. while.

So please check it out tomorrow (Friday) around 11:30am EST on their website under the lunchtime quiz link.

As Katie Shrop would say, "preesh."

Until next time...

Favorite covers

I recently had the pleasure of accidentally (ok, so it wasn't so much an accident on my end) of befriending one of the contributing writers of my favorite Birmingham magazine Mental_Floss on the facebook.

His name is David, and I like his style. I won't really get into it, on the off chance he'll glance at my blog again and think I'm some crazy stalker. So I'll leave it at that. Anyway, that's not really what this is about. I bring him up because he wrote about covers that he ranks with the originals (http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/29377)
and it got me thinking about sharing some particular favorites of mine, strictly for entertainment value. Harry-if you're still keeping up with me-you'll be pleased to know that Dave is one of them. Enjoy:

"In My Life" - Dave Matthews

Originally written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and released on 1965 album "Rubber Soul"



"Sea of Love" - Cat Power

Originally written by John Phillip Baptiste (aka Phil Phillips) in 1959.



"Baby Now That I've Found You" - Alison Krauss and Union Station

Originally written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod and released in 1967 by The Foundations



"Crazy in Love" - The Magic Numbers

Originally released by Beyonce Knowles and released in 2003 on the album "Dangerously in Love"



"Hey Ya" - Matt Weddle

Originally written by Andre 3000 for his 2003 album "The Love Below"




Well that's just to name a few. I have a lot going on right now, so I'll be back with an update on my actual life soon enough. Until then...

An Open Letter to all of the Summertime Jammers

Dear Sisqo/R. Kelly/Beyonce/Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff/Jay-Z,

When was the last time you guys came out with an awesome summer jam?

There's only so many summer mixes that can include "The Thong Song," or "Remix to Ignition."

I'm strugglin', ya'll.

It's already July and the best I can do for Summer Mix '09 is that damn "I'm on a boat."

Come on.

Sisqo-can I make a suggestion? You used to be all up ONs a summer jam, and even often refered to yourself as some sort of "dragon." Maybe you could use that. Everyone loves a good sequel, especially one 10 years in the making (I know, I was shocked to learn that your greatest hit is entering it's decade mark as well) so maybe you could have some sort of "Thong song II" or "Dragon Summer" I don't know. Give me something for God's sake.

R. Kelly-I know you've been *ahem* busy, with your trials and your trapped in the closet sagas, but I used to start subconsiously swaying whenever I'd hear the sweet intro to Remix to Ignition. I don't actually recall the first Ignition song, if there ever was one. The great thing about a remix is you can mix it all over again. maybe you could just release the same exact single under a different title. Who cares-I'm desperate here.

Beyonce - I remember the first time I hear a music tone ringtone. It was Andi Till's new motorolla, and I was sitting in the chapter room at the Chi Omega house. I remember thinking how great technology was, after hearing the sweet sound of "Baby Boy" digitized and made into a small file (an mp-what?!) Sure, you haven't exactly stopped. You put out that single about boxes to the left, and something about single ladies, but things just haven't been the same. Where's that Sean Paul/Beyonce duo I've so long waited for? Help a single lady out!

Will Smith - you just ought to be ashamed of yourself. Summertime is one the most amazing songs (and my current ringtone) on the summer jam market to this day. Just because you didn't disappear into obscurity like SOME people on that track doesn't mean you can bank off of that forever. I need some big Willy style, but preferably circa 1988. How am I supposed to be chillin out maxin relaxin all cool shootin some bball outside of the school without it?

And finally, Jay Z-you're arguably my favorite. "big pimpin'" pretty much completes my life. It was the original "I'm on a boat" and way before you ever met your lady love, so you were, in fact, big pimpin' at that time. As you say in the song, "I got no patience. I hate waitin'" so give me another summer jam before I have to resort to dusting the dirt off of your old singles instead of my shoulder.

So come on guys,

you can't have completely dropped off the face of the planet. Sisqo, your hair alone acts like a beacon of hope. Please fellas (and Beyonce), help me make this summer mix, or at least 2010's mix a memorable one.

Love,
Dominique

To bum, or not to bum: That is the question

So the summer is fast approaching (just kidding, it's definitely already here) and with this summer comes a few kind of big decisions to make.

First of all, I need to cut my nails. This isn't so much a decision as a revelation I am making right this very moment as I am struggling to type.

Anyway, really first of all, I need to decide when I want to say my final goodbyes to the ol' Axcan Pharma. My lease ends August 18th, so the original plan was to work through August 14th to maximize my income until I'm moving home and being possibly jobless until only God knows when.

Now things have started to reach the pinacle of unbearable crappiness at my job, and I want out more than ever. This combined with the fact that manfriend Chris will be off the entire month of July and we want to spend a good three to 4 days with his dad in Tennessee, makes me start to wonder if I could cut the financials ties that bind a little bit sooner.

Realistically, I could survive. My income is fairly predictable, and my expenses aren't usually too far off month to month. If I budgeted correctly, and was really, really good about not being frivolous, I could possibly quit mid-July, and survive until I moved home.

This would also give me ample opportunity to search for a job, seeing as I would not have to take time off of work to interview. AND I wouldn't be praying to the powers that be that my bosses approve my vacation time (remember when I said I wanted to go to Tennessee? easier said than done with these b's) So why am I not jumping at this opportunity to get some much needed vacation free time with my boo? A few reasons:

1)whilst I told you I could survive until I got home, the reality of it is that I may not survive much longer after that jobless and penniless. I have student loans, credit cards, cell phone bills people. Working that extra month would give me a very nice cushion until I'm back in the steady line of income.

2)I have amazing insurance that I don't want to lose just yet. I have a prescription drug plan that means anything I need is $15 or less right now. Seeing as I've caught everything but the plague recently, I'm holding on to that for dear, dear life.

3)yeah my job sucks, but it has for a long, long time. It's not like I can't handle it.

4)Even though Christopher has to start back work August 1, I will be living in the same city as him two weeks following. Our usual need to plan weeks in advance to see eachother will be non-existent soon enough.

5) I do still have vacation time left. 6 days to be exact. Which means if I put in enough advance notice, I could more than likely still make the Tennessee trip AND get paid for it in July.

So now you see my issue. Both options work. Both have good points and bad points.

I'm headed to the homestead this weekend, so Chris and I will talk about it then. He, of course, wants to spend as much time with me as possible, but I have other things to think about. Any suggestions would be appreciated from my few devoted followers!

Until next time...

If you hadn't gone tomorrow, you could have stayed on 'till June

This summer will you....
1..Dye your hair? Highlight it, yes. Nothing like a blonde in the summertime! Right, Joy?

2. Get a tan, or burn? tan..kind of. I accepted my paleness a long time ago, and I think I look a little strange being really tan. I'll go for a little color.

3. Go on vacation/trip? I hope so. I have a few ideas with Chris. We want to visit his dad in Tennessee and his brother in Denver.

4. Go camping? This one is happening for sure! We're going the few days before Eva's wedding/my birthday weekend. We're going to go kayaking or canoing, and cook hotdogs and make smores. I'm so excited!

5. Plant flowers? Eh, I live in an apartment, so I doubt it

6. Play in the sprinkler? I wanted to do the slip n slide again this year, but I hurt soooo badly after last year, and let's face it-I don't bounce back like I used to.

7. Have a job? yes, the same one I do everyday. But we do get summer hours now so I'll be off at noon on fridays!

8.Go on any road trips? not sure if we'll be driving to visit Denver or Tennessee but I doubt it.

9. Do anything with your family?
I'm sure. I go home a lot, and I plan to spend some beach time with my sisters

10. Do anything with your friends? All the time! We'll have Eva's bachelorette party, wine down thursdays, movie nights, J. Clydes....and Joy will be here for some of it! hoooooray!

11. Spend your money or save it?hmmmm......pass. <------------same!

12. Do anything you’ve never done before? go camping! I can't believe I've never been. I have a feeling it's going to be great!

13. Who will you spend the most time with? It will be divided among Chris, Katie, Lucy, the Joys, Sarah, my sisters, my nieces and pug.


14. Anything you’re not looking forward to? working on pretty days...but hey, you gotta make a living, right?


15. Favorite food on the bbq: hamburgers, especially my dad's

16. Favorite summer drink: icees. hands down.

17. What do you look forward to when summer comes? summer hours at work, beach and pool time, warm nights and eating outside. Summer clothes, of course


18. Would you rather it be winter? That would be a big fat NO

19. How many times will you hit the beach? hopefully a lot more than I did last summer

20. Do you go camping? I am going to this summer!

21. Flip flops or shoes? Flip flops, always.

22. River or pool? Pool, the Gulf and a lake.

23. Shorts or dresses? I love summer dresses!

24. Favorite summer treats? cool-pops (or pop ice, flavor-ice, whatever you want to call it)

25. Favorite summer memories? memorial day weekend last year at the condo with the fam, going to Jack Johnson and Dave with Sarah in Atlanta, generally just everything about it!

"I just told Dave Matthews to 'wrap it up'."

That quote belongs to the lovely Katie Shropshire, who spent night three on the Spring 2009 Concert Tour with me at DMB in the 'ham last night.

So much has happened since my last post. SOOOOOOO much. I can't really get into all of it, so I'll try for a brief run down followed by a post just about Dave. Let's see, let's see....

oh! I went to see Flight of the Conchords in Hotlanta with Shrop, Luc, Mark, Jean, and the brothers Cowert. It was AMAZING. There is nothing un-funny about their songs. ever. Also, in the midst of this, I spent six (practically) inseperable days with Chris. He is so much fun. All of the time.

Anyway, that went down, but the following Wednesday I got some severely disappointing news when Harry broke up with me. He argues that I broke up with him, but that's so not the case. Anyway, I won't be taking lessons from him anymore. I guess I'm ok with it. Alot of people don't want me to quit my drumming but I'm sooooooo unmotivated.

what else...I went to Mobile this past weekend and spent a lot of time with Chris. I was barely home, which I kind of felt bad about, but not really. I met his friend Emily Friday night, and she seems really nice so that was fun. Saturday night was ASMS prom. I can't really describe the kind of kids that go to ASMS prom, so I won't try. Just know that they're really smart. and really weird. I'll share some pics from that delightful evening:

This is one of Chris's students, Eli. He's a sweet kid who asked me to dance

This girl's dress was awful. it reminded me of a jellyfish.
This guy....Caleb. He's one of Chris's co-workers. Chris needed me to take a prom pic with him, and I do what my boo needs.


Prom pic!

Anywho, it was a good time. I didn't want to leave Mobile, but alas, I had to.

on to Dave...

Katie and I arrived a wee bit late (my fault, I was napping) and missed the opening act completely. I couldn't even tell you who it was, but I'm not that sad about it. Then we went to the wrong section and almost '"busted a cap" in some peeps for being in our seats. Good thing we figured out it was one section over, and hadn't said anything to those people yet. We would have felt really, really dumb.

Anyway, we went to our seats and waited for Dave to begin. The night was nice-the air was cool, the stars were out, and the smell of "special smoke" was surrounding us from every angle. Not that I minded at a Dave concert. It's not a lovely smell, but it's pretty concert-y, right? All part of the experience. So he opens with "Don't drink the water" which is such a good opener if you ask me. It gets people pumped about life. He played a lot of songs I didn't really know, but he snuck in some Jimi Thing, Crash, Ants Marching, and - get this- during the encore he played Sister. With Tim Reynolds. I thought I would NEVER get to hear that one live, ever.

Somewhere in the midst of all of this, Shrop and I abandoned our nosebleed seats for a better life with Leslie and Michael Stevens down in the second tier. All in all, it was a great time. I'm glad I got to give Shrop her first Dave experience, and hopefully we'll have many more in the future! For now, enjoy some pics:

Please Allow Me to Elaborate

Yesterday I had a minute so I posted what I would be talking about today, mostly because I didn't want to forget today when I did my Thursday blog. That sentence seems pretty jumbled, but I'm really tired, so let slide, eh?

so numero uno: The most awesomest ringtone ever. It's the theme to Flight of the Conchords. If you've never seen this gem of a program, call your cable company, get HBO and start watching immediately. If you're not going to do that. here's a youtube video for demonstration:

dos: I learned how to c-walk at work yesterday. My never-ending battle with my printer came to a full on stop yesterday after I was completely defeated, and I couldn't do much of anything, so when Christian came in I asked him to teach me how to c-walk. It involves bending the knees, stepping out and hopping forward. I attempted this in heels first, so of course, I almost fell. But once I got my shoes off I did alright.

tres: I have a boo. His name is Chris and he's awesome. He lives in Mobile, which sucks, but we have so much fun together.

quatro: It's APRIL! Concert tour 2009 is about to get rollin' once again. I have FOTC in about a week, Dave the next Monday and Ray the next Monday after that. It's going to be amazing. AMAZING. Shrop, Luc and I are going to make our best Bret McKenzie tshirts with animal prints on them. Yeah, I know I'm 25 years old.

cinco: who has two thumbs and gets to go to prom again? This girl. Chris works at Alabama School of Math and Science, aka, Hogwart's school of witchcraft and wizardry. Their prom is the weekend I'm going home this month, and he has to chaperon so he got the ok to have me as his date. I'll get to meet all of the kids on his hall and see the Battleship for the first time in my life. We both have lived in Mobile most of our lives, and neither one of us has ever been.

seis: I had my first lesson with Harry in over a month yesterday afternoon! It went GREAT. I was ready for some practice, and I feel like I'm getting better. Harry was in a really good mood, too, which helps. He was goofing off, which is a side of him I don't get to see that often. Anyway, turns out I'm a total freak at drumming, because the things that are supposed to be hard for everyone are easy for me, and the things that are supposed to be the easiest I just don't get. Not surprising. I don't do anything the conventional way it seems. So I'm having trouble getting my right hand and right foot to cooperate together. (The highhat and the bass drum) They seem to want to get into a pattern of doing the same thing. Harry says the best thing is to prioritize what I want to train my body to do first, and then add in the more factors. Like just play the highhat and bass for a minute or just play the bass and the snare, and not worry about the third component until I'm ready. I felt good about things yesterday, though, and it's always good to see sweet Harry. Even if he is a total show-off sometimes!

so that's what's happening in my life right now. Things are good. Hopefully they'll stay that way for a while! Until next time...

I got a minute

so I thought I'd blog a little about what I plan to go into detail about tomorrow:

1)I got the most awesome of all ringtones
2)I learned how to c-walk at work today
3)I have a boo
4)It's april, which means concerts 2, 3 &4 of the Spring 2009 Concert Tour are this month
5)I get to go to prom again
6)the drum lesson I'll have tonight - my first in over a month.

so chew on that for a while, and I'll give deets tomorrow morning.

Until then...

Sunny Day, sweeping the clouds away, on my way to where the air is sweet...

That's the theme to sesame street, in case you were wondering. I wake up almost every morning with that song in my head, despite the fact that I haven't actually seen an episode of sesame street since I was 5. I blame this:



So I have my first drum lesson tonight since Harry's brush with death/tonsil surgery and I'm a tad nervous. Maybe it's because my eye hurts. Maybe it's because I haven't slept well the past two nights. But, gun to my head, I would have to say that it's because I haven't touched my drums in a long time. Big surprise, right?

Well it's too late now. I'm headed there right after work, lack of practice and all. And it's sooo rainy and ugly today too. Blah. I just want to curl up in my bed and watch weeds, which is my current dvd obsession thanks to Katie Shrop.

I suppose I should be grateful. Harry is alive and well, and I can learn something new. Drum lessons is a lot like working out to me. I don't want to do it, ever. But if I go I'm so glad I did, and I feel great afterwards.

Well, wish me luck. I'm probably going to get scolded.

Weekends, I prefer the weekends!

If you've never seen the Will Ferrell skit with him as the devil trying to help out Garth Brooks, please try to youtube that like it's hot. I would do it myself, but I feel like crap and I'm not in great research mode.

Anyway, Harry is still recovering from having his tonsils out last week, so we didn't meet yesterday. It actually could be a while before I can get my drum on, because he told me "The stitches broke and I'm drooling blood," today.

We've been emailing a bit back and forth, mostly talking about life and scrubs (we have a little bit of a difference of opinion on that one. Rest assured it WILL get hashed out.)
But we've also been discussing this song I want to learn on the drums that seems fairly simple. You may have heard it-it's been around for a while. It's called "Young Folks" by Peter Bjorn and John.

I will youtube that one, because it's easy to find:


You're welcome.

The intro sounds like maybe just some 1/16 notes between the snare and the tom, but I'm not really sure. I don't have an ear for it yet. I may not ever have an ear for it. Anyway, the rest of it is pretty consistent. It seems like maybe the basic beat I know already with an extra bass beat and maybe a sneaky snare in there. I'll need harry to pick it apart for me when he's not drooling blood anymore.

I'm headed home for the weekend for some much needed R&R, and time with my pug. I'll hopefully have some drum news to report soon. Until then...

Let the drummer kick, let the drummer kick yo

I know what you're thinking. "Dominique Elaine Grant, you haven't made reference to Citizen Cope since the DDH debacle of 2004."

And you're right. That dirty, dirty hippie did in fact ruin that one man band for me. However, I couldn't think of a better way to describe last night's drum lesson.

I am, by far, Harry's worst student. Of course, if you asked him that he would misdirect the hell out of that question, and give you some sort of answer that didn't answer it at all. Because that's one of his many talents. Anyway, he was telling me about a new student he has of his named Stefan (sp? who knows?) that is really interested in the mechanics of drumming, and is making Harry think about things he hasn't had to think about in years. Such as polyrythms.

So during all of this I'm just thinking. "geeez I would never think to ask about friggin' polyrythms..." I flat out asked Harry last night if I should quit drumming.

I think my problem is I'm not motivated enough to practice, and he thinks my problem is I'm not progressing as fast as I want to, and I'm not proud of any progress I am making. Sure, I can get on board with that theory. So last night we get to drumming. Doing the basic kick drum/snare/highhat combo is like riding a bike. Once you learn it, no matter how long it's been since you've done it, you can just pick it right back up. Harry says that all of drumming is like that. He really simplified a lot of what I was complicating, and getting overwhelmed with having to learn. We worked on incorporating just any kind of variation into that basic groove, and last night it was focused on varying the kick drum.

He tells me practice is just going to sound bad, because it's trial and error to learn what works and what doesn't. He pointed out that if I sit down and practice what I already know, I'll never progress. That makes sense. Leaving there I had a renewed sense of confidence that I could continue doing this, at least for now. I just have to stop complicating it, and realize how simple it could all be if I just train my muscles to do what I want them to do. Then you don't even have to think about it, really, ever.

So I need to practice. I need to bang around on my electronic kit (oooooooooh how I wish I had an acoustic set. One day. One day.) and try to make sense of what I'm hearing. let me see if I can leave you with a picture, for funsies.

It snowed, really? Because I'm still in a Ben Folds haaaaaze

I don't care that it "allegedly" snowed outside my windows Sunday morning, because my thoughts are still consumed by Friday night, and the awesomeness that was Ben Folds.

In an excellent start to the Spring 2009 Concert Tour, Katie and I traveled Friday to Hotlanta, Georgia for the Ben Folds concert at the Tabernacle. There we met some of Katie's old highschool crew (Max, Amanda, Chris, Beth (I think?) and Beth's boyfriend, whose name I can not remember, but found to be very nice.

Anyway, we got there early enough to grab a bite at Taco Mac, yes, Taco Mac, and then head over to reserve a place in line in the rain and cold to ensure we got the seats we wanted. The key to this operation was a well-executed game plan, and ours was to head immediately upstairs to get front row balcony. And so it was, and it was great. We were facing the left of the stage, where we had a perfect view of the piano (and if you know anything of BF, he is ALL OVER that piano) so we were happy.

The concert itself was so amazing, there are no words to describe it. So I won't. But I will post pictures, and a few of the great songs he played:

Kate

Underground

Not the Same

Philosophy

Army (yesssssssssssss)

Landed

Brick

Are you reeling in jealousy yet? Then feast your eyes on THIS:

I guess I can post a few pics of the snow, if you really want it...

I didn't have a drum lesson this past Wednesday (Harry had a gig at the UAB/Memphis campout) but we will resume this Wednesday, and hopefully I'll have some new skeeeeels.

Until then....

It's the return of the Mack

Does anyone remember that song? It was a gem back in my highschool days. If you don't remember, allow me to help you out:



Anyway, that's actually not the point. The point is, the mack has returned. and so have I, thankfully. I know what you're thinking. "But Dominique, you've been so stellar to be around for the past year or so. How could you possibly get any better?" Well thanks, liars, but I know I've been the biggest whiny mope ever. However, I ripped someone a new one last week that deserved to get a new one ripped, and, being a big believer in effciency, I also used that fury to start the ripping on someone else who had it coming. Both of these have resulted in a renewed sense of self, and I don't feel the inevitable guilt at all.

What I do feel, is valuable. Valuable to myself, to my job, to my friends. Once upon a time, I would have never put up with half of the crap salad I have the past year. Now I'm not saying that I'm going to turn into some kind of BA, but I have learned that when appropriate, I am capable and willing to say "uncool."

I also went to drum lessons yesterday, and had a great time as always. I need to really focus on practicing what I've learned so far, because I'm ready to move on to the next step. I've also kind of discovered the kind of drummer I want to be, which is a majorly big deal with as wide a spectrum of music tastes as I have. Think Foo Fighters...rocking out.

Anyway, I'll report back soon with my progress. And if you didn't bother to watch the return of the Mack, please please do. It's even better than I remember.

Happy Valentine's Day, Loves

So I know I'm supposed to be bitter and whatever, but I can't help but love the love on the big V-day.

I have great friends. The kind of friends you watch on the CW or the show "Friends", (don't lie-you watch it) that you think "Friendships aren't really like that." But mine are, and I'm so appreciative. So, in honor of the most reverred (and hated, simultaniously) holidays, I present:

Youtube Series of Friendship Videos (2009 Edition). Enjoy, and I love you.









Happy Valentine's Day!

Don't be fooled

into thinking I'm going to blog about drumming because I haven't done any of that in TWO weeks.


Some things have been going on with trying to get into school, and man problems, and work, so I felt like Wednesday would have been a huge waste of Harry's time. I wrote him an email letting him know I was going to bail because A) I didn't feel like drumming and B) I didn't practice AT ALL since the last time we met, but he wrote me back saying he would be there and if I showed then we could just chill.



So last Wednesday's "drum lesson" consisted of me sitting in his kitchen for an hour and half eating soup and convincing him that having his wisdom teeth pulled and his tonsils out wouldn't be so bad.

So it's Wednesday again, and I STILL haven't practiced, and I just cancelled on him. Honestly, I can't even face the guy. And you know why? Because he's not going to judge me. He's going to sit there, messing with his hair or his face or his iphone and he's going to tell me that I "seem to have a lot of good stuff going on" and I just can't handle the niceness today. I'll take this week, and next week (that was pre-cancelled because of something he had to do) and I'll really take into consideration all of the crap I'm dealing with. So when I see him again in two weeks or so, and he tells me I'm "progressing a lot faster" than he ever did, I won't feel like maybe it's a total lie.

On a more sunshine and rainbows note, I'm heading to the homestead this weekend and I couldn't be happier. Time with the fam ALWAYS reminds me who I'm good at being. I'll try to take lots of good pictures of the nieces for posting next blog, and hopefully have a fun story or two. Until then......

Of Squigglies and Fractions

"I just like to be around people who want to know stuff, because I want to know stuff, too."

~Harry

Well thank God for that. Because I still suck at drumming. I feel pretty embarrassed by my pace in this whole thing, even though Harry says I'm doing just fine. Yesterday's lesson was particularly humiliating because it involved learning how to read music ( a little bit) and this entailed going over fractions. Anyone who knows me knows that math is my Achile's Heal. It is simply one of those concepts I don't grasp, like politics or why anyone likes twizzlers.

So he taught me (via a dry erase board, oh how I love the smell of dry erase markers) how to distinguish the difference in notes when reading music for the drums.

These are the ones I have to concern myself with the most:

Especially the 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16 notes. That measure with the 1/8 notes on the hi-hat, and the 1/4 notes on the bass and snare-that's that basic drum groove I've been working on forever. that's technically how it looks.

Then there's things that looks like this:

that note is called a "triplet." It represents fitting three 1/8 notes into the timing of two. Harry says these are really common in drumming, so it's pretty crucial I learn to recognize and play them.

It doesn't end at triplets, but apparently things like quintuplets and septuplets are rare in most things. Which is awesome, because I'm not sure I could play that fast.

So now I'm equipped to be able to look a piece of sheet music for a particular song and somewhat know how to pick it apart, which is cool.

So my homework for this week (self assigned) is to try to pick apart something simple from this book that I bought with all kinds of different drum grooves in it, and also to work on my timing of fitting beats where they are supposed to go. As Harry says, "It's a perfect science" so I'll let you know how that works out.

Until then........

I sure do wish some things happened differently then they do a lot of the time

Let's talk about grad school.

So, here I am, trying to voluntarily put myself back through the ringer of coursework at UAB, AND begging to pay them to do it for me.

But can I get anyone to talk to me about how I go about doing this? No. Particularly Samara Massey, who I am totally not afraid to call out on this blog (mainly because only 3 or so people read it). I have emailed her several times and the only time I got response was when I copied someone else in the department on the email. Thanks a pad-load, Samara. You're really making me want to go to UAB for my continuing education.

I have gotten an advising sheet. I have sent in my unofficial transcripts. I have taken that God-forsaken MAT and I have started my application for the program, however, I do not want to apply yet until I know whether or not my MAT score is good enough, and if I can't get a damn advisor, then I have no way of knowing if I need to take it over again.

I definitely called the department chair today and left her a voicemail explaining how Samara and I were "not having any luck communicating" and that I NEEDED to speak to someone, anyone, about my MAT score and my chances of getting accepted for the summer term. I'm willing to give you my SUMMER, UAB. my motherflippin' SUMMER. the greatest time of the year, and you're shooting it down. to be a teacher no less. In alabama, the most God-awful state to choose to teach because our education system is ridiculous.

Now that I'm done ranting, I have to figure out what I'm going to practice tonight so that when Harry inevitably asks me what I've been working on tomorrow, I won't have to ninja his mind into forgetting he asked me that like I always do.

Want to see what happiness looks like?

Well, what my happiness looks like is this:

That would be the Yamaha electronic drum kit that I now OWN. It is all mine, and I love it. Harry came over last night to "help" me set it up, and by "help" I mean he did the whole thing himself. I may have plugged in a few wires he simply couldn't reach.

ANYwho, it's awesome, and he said it was a great set. Since I'm not working off a loaner, I can now continue my drumming no matter where I go in life.

We didn't learn anything new, but that doesn't matter because it was a great session anyway. Since I've been so slow to learn new things, I decided to focus some energy on my drum inspiration. My first step to do this was to get some books on different drummers and their styles. I bought a few on amazon, and I began my musical education.

Here's a few of the drummers I learned and loved:

Keith Moon, drummer for "The Who"

This kid was ca-razy. He was often accused of sounding "sloppy" but it was really just very intricate. He's probably my favorite because he was ridiculous and had an apetite for destruction

Mike Portnoy, drummer for Dream Theater

This is one of Harry's favorites. I don't know much about him, but I've seen a video or two. and look at his kit. day-um.

Carter Beuford, drummer for Dave Matthews Band

This is Harry's hero. From what I've read, he's a big fan of using "Ghost strokes" which are really cool sounding.

Tony Williams, drummer for Miles Davis

Apparently this guy could do things that defied physics. His hands would be doing a steady movement but the sound would be something they surely couldn't be doing.

Animal, drummer for "The Muppets"

Allegedly his drumming style was a tribute to Keith Moon, but I added him because he's funny.

So I will continue my drummageducation with research and practice. And I now feel comfortable enough to start exploring how to do some things on my own, so I'll hopefully have some things to show Harry next week when we meet.

Now I actually have to get some work done...

Matchbox 20 is Nobody's "favorite" band

No truer words have ever been spoken.

Let's face it-we all judge people based on something. If you say you don't judge, you're a Lying McLyster because you do, and you have, and you will again.

So I let a lot of things slide when it comes to the company I keep, mostly because I find what most people see as flaws as major selling points in a relationship a lot of the time. The one thing I judge harshly on, however, is musical taste. It's not always a deal breaker, but it can definitely change the way I view someone.

Now everyone has a bit of an eclectic taste for different things. While I'm pretty proud of the 553 songs that I have entered into my ipod since it coming into my life a few short months ago, I do have Wham on there, for God's sake. I'm not talking about the one or two songs you like by Britney Spears (yep, she's on there too. Frequently.) I'm talking about all-time-favorite-entire-album-went-to-the-concert bands.

Some popular favorites that don't weird me out but aren't necessarily my picks:

1)DMB
2)Led Zeppelin
3)Widespread Panic
4)Metallica
5)The Beatles
6)Hell, I would even take Britney Spears.

But no where in that shortened (but realistically infinite) list do you see a band like "Matchbox 20."

Matchbox 20 is a band, that, like Third Eye Blind or Three Doors Down is good for a 3-4 song base, if that. So when I recently came across someone who's 2nd favorite band was listed as Matchbox 20, I gotta tell you, my stomach flipped a little. and I felt the judgement. I felt it BIG TIME. I had this conversation with Harry (it wasn't him, his tastes are impeccibly in tune with my own) and he made the very statement that titles this blog. You all know Harry's a sweetheart, and I hate to rat him out like that, but come on. I wouldn't even count that as a judgemental statement so much as I would a pure fact.

Anyway, it got me wondering what other fun facts this kid is going to bust out during the tenure of our friendship, and how much it will change the way I view it. Next thing you know he'll be telling me he doesn't eat hamburgers and owns a pet cat. (not that I know anyone like that ; )

In it to Win it

So I got to see my dear, sweet Harry yesterday.



I love drum lesson wednesdays, but sometimes they stress me out. I'm learning so slowly, and I feel like I waste his time sometimes. We got a little bit done yesterday, though. We worked on intregrating my crash symbol into "the groove" and I was introduced to a little friend called The Metronome.



I still suck at this, but to get good was never really the point, now was it? Yeah sure I would love to be good, but really I just wanted something I could really get into. We talked a bit about that, too. The goal for Harry is teach me fun things, and my goal is to come home every day, look at my drum kit and want to hug it and tell it I love it.



So I'm looking to get inspired. I can't love something I know nothing about, so I'm going to do what I do best and research the hell out of the drums. I need to find someone who plays that makes me want to play, and I really think if I put some effort into my music education, I can appreciate it a lot more.

"Seems like you've been missing a lot of blogging lately." I wouldn't say I've been "missing" it

So much has happened, I think my blog would explode if I tried to fit it all in, so I'll give some of the shorterned version:

1) My christmas was great, thanks. I got a planner and money to fix my broken laptop. ah, to be an adult.

2)New Year's eve was great too. I had a really good time with friends, and it was a much better start than last year.

3)I'm kind of seeing someone. No, it's not Harry, and I wish you would quit accusing me of being in love with him.

4)I have about 1,000,000,000 new year's resolutions and I don't expect to keep more than about 5

5) I got my hair cut. I've been told I look like a completely different person, which I don't know if that's good or bad, but I like it.

6) I have acquired my very own electronic drum kit. I haven't seen it yet, but I don't even care what it looks like for the money I got it for. It's functional and from a friend so I know it's not going to be too bad.

I hope none of that came off as harsh sounding, but I'm just trying to spare you a really, really really long blog post about my life.

I resume lessons tomorrow so I'm sure I'll write up a storm Thursday...until then...