Hi blog friends! Happy Monday afternoon. So, ya know how I am the graduate assistant in Time Based Media? Well, today the professor is sick, and she emailed me this morning to tell me that I will be the substitute teacher today. It's fine, because the students are working on their sound art projects. So I'm just here basically to monitor the computer lab, and answer any questions they may have on sound art... for the NEXT THREE HOURS!
Not going anywhere for a while? Grab a snickers. Except today I have a bag full of almonds, some fruit leather, and my Sigg jug with some water in it. I'm a happy camper. Let me tell you about my life. :)
It seems like a lot of my friends are unhappy these days. Come on guys, it's not even winter yet! How about if you ARE happy, leave a blog comment and tell me why, or what's doing it for ya. I could probably use some of that in my life.
**Not that I'm not happy. Cause I am. I just need to know that other people that I care about are happy too. That's all.**
Know what's making me happy? I went and saw the movie Where the Wild Things Are this weekend. It is definitely unique! I'm sure there are lots of people out there who don't like it, or don't understand it. But I really connected to it. I thought it was hilarious, and honest, and heart warming. I believe that I am a fellow wild thing. Does anyone know where I can get a full body wolf suit like unto Max?
The picture at the top of this blog is me showing my inner wild thing.
Also, if anyone wants to talk about the deeper symbols and meanings and character relationships in this movie, I'm completely into that. Call me. :)
I also recently watched The Shining - you know, the old school horror flick? Wow, definitely bizarre! But with upcoming Halloween, I was in quite the mood for it. Jack Nicholson is creepy enough by himself, then add a gigantic haunted and isolated hotel, a horrible murder story, and a kid with a mullet who can "shine!" Ha ha. Awesome. Can anyone explain the guy in the animal costume in room 327? If so, please enlighten me.
Also in the spirit of Halloween, Nick and I have been trying out pumpkin recipes. I like to call then pumpkin "funtivities." Pumpkin roll and pumpkin pancakes have been a success. Soon to come: Thai pumpkin soup, pumpkin chili, and healthy/hearty pumpkin bread. Yum. Isn't fall fantastic?
Also making fall fantastic has been the delightful Kal Haven trail. Who can say no to a brisk mid-morning walk on this beautiful "trail for all seasons?" The weather is crisp, but the sun, the sky, the leaves and the squirrels all warm my heart. I agree with Regina Spektor: "Leaves become most beautiful when they're about to die. When they're about to fall asleep, when they're about to dry... up!" I wish I had pictures to share from the vibrant Michigan woods, but you'll just have to take my word for it.
Cello is going well. My piano trio played Smetana in a masterclass with the Storioni Trio from the Netherlands last week. It was fantastic. And I'm using my practice tracker, and I made myself a learning schedule this morning. I'm just feeling very... on top of my cello life these days. And I think Uch is happy with me. That always makes my world a brighter place.
OK, I can't believe I've waited this long in the blog post to mention this, but I'm the new owner of a cute pink SNUGGIE! Friend Mike and friend Nick teamed up last night to get me a sweet gift. And I came home from work to discover this:
Mike and Nick had dressed up my cello case with warm weather clothing, featuring my new awesome snuggie. As ridiculous as the commercials are, snuggies really are quite wonderful. And partial proceeds from the pink one support the breast cancer foundation. It's one of my new favorite possessions. Ya'll know you're jealous.
Nathan is simply ON FIRE as a missionary, and I am exceedingly proud. Waiting is going well these days. And that feels really nice. Check out his blog. He writes fantastic letters!
These are all things that are making me happy. And Time Based Media class STILL isn't over.
XOXO,
James
Hi blog friends! Happy Monday afternoon. So, ya know how I am the graduate assistant in Time Based Media? Well, today the professor is sick, and she emailed me this morning to tell me that I will be the substitute teacher today. It's fine, because the students are working on their sound art projects. So I'm just here basically to monitor the computer lab, and answer any questions they may have on sound art... for the NEXT THREE HOURS! 
Michael was our fast, yet safe, driver in his Mercury Hybrid SUV. Here he is looking fierce in my sunglasses, somewhere mid-Michigan. We listened to plenty of Springsteen, TuPac, and Highway Country Radio. We can talk and not talk for hours! 
This is Michael on the ferry with the harbor in the background. He assured me that he is a natural seaman. It was a beautiful day! Nothing but blue skies and high 60s. The ferry ride was fantastic! We had an awesome view of the mackinaw bridge and all the beauty that surrounds it. I was really excited to get to the island. 
And then we DID get to the island. And everything was so expensive! We didn't pay $10.50 each to visit Fort Mackinac, but instead, we walked around up behind it. We found Skull Cave, Fort Holmes, and don't even forget Sugar Loaf rock formation! We made it a goal to read every touristy information sign we could find. As we were walking around, I couldn't help but love how beautiful the trees were. The light and the shadows and the leaves were breath taking. This picture doesn't do it justice. 
After we were done walking around the Mackinac forest we were REALLY tired, so we went down to the shore of Lake Huron to rest. I'd never been to Lake Huron before. And here is the classic 'feet in the lake' picture. It was exactly the kind of refreshment I needed. 
These are the lovely waves of Lake Huron with the lighthouse in the background. We spent some time throwing rocks into the lake. Mike almost accidentally threw a rock at my head.
Then we tried to go to scope out the Grand Hotel... the largest Summer hotel in the United States with the longest wrap around porch. It's spectacular. And $600 a night! In true Mackinac fashion, you have to pay $10 just to walk around the grounds. A stuffy lady with a foreign accent wouldn't let us walk much closer to the hotel than this. But don't worry, we snuck around through the back gardens. We got to observe the obscenely rich swimming and playing croquet on the front lawn. We're so deviant. 
Then we fulfilled one of my life long desires. I've always wanted to ride a tandem bicycle. We rented one, and rode it around the perimeter of the island. Mike thought it would be lame, but it was actually amazingly fun and beautifully relaxing. It was a good team building experience for our friendship. :) We finished the route in record breaking time, and had the bike back to the shop before our hour was up. 
After that, we just spent some time checking out the tourist shops. I was trying to find a shirt that said "I biked Mackinac TANDEM" and Mike wanted a shirt that mentioned fudge packing. We didn't find a shirt for either of us. We did buy some fudge. Lots of fudge. And the unanimous favorite flavor of Jamilyn and Mike is Chocolate Cherry Walnut. YUM. Then it was time to catch the ferry and head home. It was much colder and windier in the evening, but still fun. It was beautiful to watch the sun setting over the water. 
Before we left Mackinac completely, we drove over the 5k suspension bridge connecting the Lower and Upper peninsulas. THAT was amazing, and beautiful. Did I mention that I forgot a memory card for my camera? So I could only take as many pictures as would fit into the internal memory? And by the time we were on the bridge, the memory was all filled up. So there is no picture evidence of this magnificent experience. But now I can officially say that I've been to the U.P. We drove around St. Ignace for a while, and then headed back down south. 
