Changes, mostly for the interesting

Currently in Earphones: Ilan Eskheri's score to Stardust, once again, and X-Ray Dog's Cerberus


So as the summer winds down, things start happening as people return from vacation, jobs hit the home stretch, and everything else that's been in a holding pattern starts to descend to the runway seemingly to keep the rest of the goings-on company.

Firstly, and most recently, Moose has returned to the house on Scripps Drive. I'm thankful for the company as the past few days have been rather forlorn, though with brief flashes of sunlight as people come and go. Phil has been doing his usual popping in and out existence, and I had the pleasure of Sophia's and Nichole's company for all of half an hour as they stopped by for a quick shower on their way to and from the Draft Horse get-together. It'll be nice to have a more permanent house-mate for the next few days, even if the difference in our sleep schedules causes me to growl occasionally.

Second, we're finally cleaning things up at the job for the last time, as we will wash our hands of keeping the dorms tidy once the freshman move in. There's something satisfying about cleaning, checking, re-checking and finally locking for good rooms that you've spent your entire summer cleaning over and over and over again. I've never quite felt more like my parents as when I would come in to clean with my co-workers and think (for the umpteenth time) "I just cleaned this! Honestly, some people...." Nor indeed have I ever felt so thankful to see rooms that tenants had left in a good state of repair after their departure. Yet another blue collar job experience under my belt, and hopefully more money in my pocket as I finish out by helping the little ones move in and perhaps getting tipped by a few grateful parents.

Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly in my book, I have had the wondrous good fortune to meet a lovely lady who seems to like my company just as much as I like hers. As a visiting high school friend of one of my fencer friends, she showed up to a little soirée that Phil hosted at our place on Saturday night. I stayed with the revelers (a good bunch that night) for the obligatory gulp of alcohol and the real (!) Absinthe that Mr. Wild brought along, but I found myself most drawn to this new (and very tall) young lady and spent a good part of the evening with her. Let us say that I never felt quite as much of a serenader as I did then.

We both had the same love of antiquities, though she edged me out in the knowledge of history (and why not, as she has two academic years and a degree on me), while I fancied that I had a squidge more experience in the languages, though not by much. The next day a group of us went hiking in Muir Woods, and aside from having lots of fun traveling on trails and Indiana Jones-ing through the underbrush, I had an opportunity to display my clumsy gallantry as she accidentally twisted her ankle, and I gave her what moral and physical support I was able on the narrow trails of the canyon. Apparently my gallantry wasn't as clumsy as I thought, for we throughly enjoyed each other's company on the car trip back to Davis.

Though she goes to school in Santa Barbara, each of us has expressed a desire to see each other again, of which I am very happy about. Though the where-to's and the why-for's are still only a nebulous fancy, we are continuing to get to know each other better. I hope these first few steps are a sign of good things to come, for her company and conversation have become very dear to me over a very short period of time, and that has to count for something.

I apologize for the lack of details on the whole subject, but I found that she enjoys a good amount of privacy (seriously, try to find her on Facebook, I dare you), and don't want to blab any potentially traceable information on my blog, as the internet is a highly public place. Friends and family, you know to ask if you want clarification.

That's it for now, catch you on the flip side, when classes (finally!) begin to start up around the end of the month.


Enough, More Later.
- James

His Swing music is interrupting my melancholy!

Currently in Earphones: X-Ray Dog Production Music up the waz

So, I went and saw the Chieftains at Mondavi on the 30th, and it was a blast. They have such great energy, and although I was initially worried that the venue would be ill-suited for such music, I was quickly proven that that all depends on the group. My only regret is that I came with a handful of cashy money to throw at the vendors and get more of their CD's, but they didn't seem to have any of them. Oh, and they played an awesome encore piece that I could only find part of on their Celtic Wedding Album. Ah well, 'twas fun anyway.

Then we had a get together on Friday evening that grew from about 4 of us to at least 10 people. It looked at first to be somewhat scary in how fast it all came together (more by chance than by planning on my part), but everything worked out well and we all had a blast. I think I'm still recovering from staying up 'till late-o'clock.

The Father unit came up on Saturday (and would have been accompanied by the Mother unit, except she had come down with something), and we took a stroll around the Covell Greenbelt. Later my Pop treated me to dinner and groceries, and I showed him the money vortex that is Armadillo Records. Fun was had by all and the Parents will probably be back up again when Mumsie has recovered.

I then proceeded to become entirely too distracted on both Sunday and Today, in that I had a Latin midterm that I did the barest amount of studying for while downloading music/watching comedy on YouTube/Facebooking/Webcomicing/Anything else that distracted me. I seemed to do all right on the test, but I think I bombed on the Scansion portion (i.e., figuring out where the feet in poetic meter go in certain lines).

Going to try and go to fencing tonight, though I feel rather sluggish. I haven't had a chance to repair my torn knickers (just some broken Velcro) and will probably be joining the sweat/workout pants club for the time being (Back into the ranks, Mr. Chen?), that is, until I go make some friends in the costume shop and pick up some sewing tips.

And now, to fold some laundry.

Enough, More Later.
- James

Edit: Didn't end up going to fencing: I started to repair my knickers and suddenly my throat felt sore. Looks like I'm coming down with something, perhaps whatever it is my mom has. This might end up sucking. Early bed for me!