Long Time, No See!

Well, it has been a very long time since I last posted... There's a fair deal of stuff that's been going on on this end, including the start of classes. I also managed to get myself into an apartment... which I am quite proud of. Not only is it large, decenty/well furnished, it's also clean. (Those who know me are aware of the fact that the usual level of cleanliness of my room/living area makes navigation so difficult that oyu need a machete and an Indian guide to find my bed) I'm also the section leader for the trumpets here at EMU (with my Co-Section Leader Jayme Travis). I also managed to get my computer up and running last week, using a power supply from an old dual PIII system. Unfortunately, not all things are going as well as I had thought... My trumpet playing, I felt, was as good as its ever been. I was certain about the outcome of the auditions that are held at the beginning of the year (at Eastern, there are two ensembles, Symhpony Band and Wind Symphony. The Winds being the premeire group). I had been the principal player in the Symph. band for the entire previous year, and there were three players in Winds that weren't returning, so I figured I was a shoe in. Well, I was very wrong. They decided to fill in only one of the Winds trumpet holes and selected a player who's a year behind me to fill it. To add salt to my open wounds, I didn't even maintain my principal position, losing it to a freshman who isn't even a music major. So, I thought my playing was fantastic, I guess I was wrong. As I mentioned, I'm one of the two trumpet section leaders in Marching Band, and am quite proud of that fact. I have been working hard to make MB be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved, taking time to get to know the people who are new to the organization and what not. As a whole, the section leaders have been drawing a noticable amount of compliments from the staff this year in regards to our work and how that band is doing well. I thought that I was a fine example of a good section leader, and that my affinity for musicality (I know it sounds pompous, but that's what I thought I had) would shine through in our section rehearsals. Then, yesterday, Mr. Boerma (Director of Bands) told me he wanted to speak with me. As it turns out, people have been approaching him with qualms about my behaviour and how I conduct myself as a role model for newer members. Someone even referred to our sectional rehearsal as haphazard. I thought I was doing well as a Section Leader and that I was contributing to the band. I guess I was wrong. Last night my Girlfriend (of slightly less than a year) and I got together and it became appearant that she was under the impression that the way to keep me entertained was through a more physical affection. (even if that's not what she wanted) I thought our relationship was well balanced and didn't revolve around the physical aspects.... but I guess I was wrong. I've been facing some pretty discouraging realizations, and I'm not certain on what to do from here. I thought I was on the right track with most everything in my life, but it turns out I just have to work harder in order to pull things together. I've been perceiving things wrong, and now I'm at a low. Oh fun. Well, I'm off to napland. Who knows, mebe I'll get whiny and start posting more... We'll just have to wait and see. -Me