Welcome to My Mind

The Birthday of My Blog

I started this web log 5 years ago as a way to force myself to see something new when I lived in Marin County.
1st Years Web Log's Birthday Entry

By the 2nd years web log birthday, I moved to another state, became a professor at a college teaching music and made some new friends.
2nd Years Web Log's Birthday Entry

By the 3rd years web log I met Jennifer. A sweet, caring, cool, intelligent, calming and very pretty girlfriend who really compliments my personality and makes dating easy and so much fun.
3rd Years Web Log's Birthday Entry

By the 4th years weblog, I began composing compositions again. I had written a string orchestra piece, reorchestrating my older compositions and composing new pieces for the steel band.
4th Years Web Log's Birthday Entry

By the 5th years web log, I had build the music program the largest that is as probably ever been and it was the largest the steel drum had ever been.
5th Years Web Log's Birthday Entry

By the 6th years web log, everything started falling apart. I was still with my very pretty perfect girl, still a college professor, music department chair and choir director. I had a piece being performed by a professional music ensemble at a new music festival. It was also the 1st time I have ever experienced a hurricane and the after effects of a city after it hit.
Last Years Web Log's Birthday Entry

This year everything has gone to hell. I lost my college gig because of budget cuts or the hurricane and a really stupid president that did not listen to anyone and had no forward incite. He got rid of over 10% of the faculty at the college. The funniest thing is that the neighboring college has record enrollment. They have no more rooms left for the classes they are offering. You know why? Because students were pissed and left the college. No vision.

To add to the hell year mom's mom, Nana, the one I could call me 2nd mom passed away. So I am basically in the same position I was when I started this blog. No gig and few friends in the area (many left after the hurricane). The only difference is that San Fransisco was really pretty and I could pick any direction to go and see something new. This time I am in Texas and you can drive anywhere and still not see nothing new.

I am still with my very pretty perfect girl and have been both going through our own personal hell and doing our best to keep ourselves sane.

I am hoping that this year a new and exciting adventure awaits.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEB LOG!!!!!!
                    

Fat Tuesday

Ron and I went to see the Fat Tuesday Parade downtown.  Mostly locals go to this parade since most of the tourists from the weekend are gone.  It is a fun parade and I usually get the best beads from this parade.  This time I got a glowing fuzzy spiked thing.  It is cool.  We then went to Luigi's for dinner.  Really good Italian.  I got the rigatoni in pesto with grilled chicken breast.  The pesto was really good and the grilled chicken was also really good. Then watched beads being thrown off balconies.  Goodbye Mardi Gras.

Jennifer's Mardi Gras Island Retreat Day 3

Made Jennifer pancakes for breakfast.  Then walked to the seawall and watched the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux Parade at 1p.  A parade with all kinds of dogs and cats.  Mostly dogs though.  Jennifer enjoyed the parade since she likes animals.  We watched part of the Children's Parade at 2p before taking her back up to Houston and concluding her island retreat.

Jennifer's Mardi Gras Island Retreat Day 2

I made some barbecue chicken burritos for lunch today and mainly hung out at my place for most of the day since it was so cold outside.  We did go and watch the Knights of Momus Parade while shivering.  After the parade, I called Ron and asked if we could warm up at his house.  He gave her the tour of his recently (post hurricane) fixed up house and his new registration of his organ.  For dinner we went to the Original Mexican Restaurant.

Jennifer's Mardi Gras Island Retreat

Went up and grabbed Jennifer and headed down for a romantic surprise for her.  I was going to make dinner and had the table set up and candles circled in sea shells she picked up on the beach last week.  When she walked in she was surprised.  Nothing fancy, just some pasta and some wine and watched the Olympics opening ceremonies which were boring, uninteresting and too much pop music.  Jennifer was even apologizing how bad her counties ceremonies were.  And of course the really bad coverage of NBC.  (They pretty much sucked during the whole Olympics.)  It was still a nice romantic evening with my girlfriend.

Real Computer Music

Ever wondered what it would sound like if the sounds of Microsuck Windows were put together as music?  If you have, listen to this.

Music using ONLY sounds from Windows XP and 98!
XP and 98

Music using ONLY sounds from Windows XP and Vista
XP and Vista

DD's Mardi Gras Island Retreat Day 4

Jennifer and I took DD to the airport and had breakfast/lunch at Denny's on the way.  It was sad to see him go but it was a lot of fun and I am glad that he did also.

DD's Mardi Gras Island Retreat Day 3

Today was the day of parades on the seawall.  The 1st one, the Mystic Krewe of Aquarius Parade, was a noon.  My apartment complex every year puts up a tent and gives away free food and drink to the tenants and guests.  They were behind today so no tent.  But free chicken right off the barbecue.  The next parade was at 3p, the Fire Truck Parade.  The seawall is a great place to have a parade.  Watching the parade with a back drop of the ocean is a unique sight.  Jennifer had gone down to the beach to look for some sea shells.A couple of them were very thin.  She put them on a frisbee we caught during the parade next to a tree.  Eventually a dog (ya a dog) ate the 2 thin sea shells.  Jennifer could not believe it.

The Krewe of Gambrinus parade was at 6p and was joined by my friend Belinda. 

Then Jennifer, DD and I had dinner at Salsas.  Jennifer and I really like the green sauce and tend to have to many chips.  We then went downtown where beads are being thrown off balconies and shirts are being lifted.  A fun day of beads, parades and breasts.

DD's Mardi Gras Island Retreat Day 2

DD and I had lunch at a great local barbecue place Queen's.  I got my barbecue smoked ham.  Yummy.  Then we went up to Houston to pick up Jennifer.  Got some chicken nuggets at McDonald's on during the drive down.  (Jennifer is addicted to nuggets but only at McDonald's.) DD and I then went to the Krewe of Aquarius Barn Bash. (Jennifer relaxed at my place where it is quiet.  Her and I have been to the barn bash a few years ago.)  DD and I had fun.  There was a lot of people, a live band, a dance floor and lots of beads being thrown.  What a fun party.

DD's Mardi Gras Island Retreat

George and I picked DD up at the airport.  I made a sign with DD's name on it (like the ones people use to pick up someone they do not know) and gave it to George.  When DD saw it he laughed.

We then went to BJ's Pizza for lunch. Still awesome pizza.  Then down to my place.  It is nice to have DD here for a visit.