City Life in Columbus

I can finally say I am moved in, though I have a million papers to file. Car is the cleanest it has been in over a year, and just about everything is put away, all I need to do is hang a million dorky tuba posters. I didn't practice too well today, mainly due to my lips being swollen and hard and with a small rim mouthpiece, so I decided to only do one session on F tuba, but I have done other fun stuff to get settled in besides practicing.

I haven't really lived in a city since I was in high school, and then I lived in the suburbs, which have become ghetto, or so I am told from people who still live there. Yesterday, I took the No 18 bus as normal from my apartment to OSU, but this time I included my bike. Everyone told me I had to experience Short North (the Arts District), so I did. I had been there before for some Jenis ice cream, and have had it the last 2 days (best ice cream in the world). I also ate at a grill down there on the way back. I decided to be adventurous and bike downtown. I only made it to the arena district on my bike, but I saw some people that would have scared me 2 years ago. I decided to bike back towards Short North after some biking. I thought I was going a long distance, t but realized my bike is set to kilometers. My bike was never assembled right (loose handle bars) so I guess I need a new one. While in Short North, I saw a wreck happen because a guy was texting, and the driver he hit (and did no damage to) was all upset and yelling. Glad it wasn't me driving there.

So today, I decided to do the same thing. I decided to bike around the beautiful OSU campus, went by mirror lake, Ohio Stadium (which you can't see the field from outside), and other parts on campus, and then practiced (poorly) and then biked to Short North after a poor practice session. I forgot to mention earlier that it rained both days I brought my bike, and every time I tried to ride my bike in March or April, it would rain. I have a cursed bike apparently. Homeless people asked me for $20 on the way to Jenis and for the bike on the way back, I kept biking. Let me tell you, biking can make you sore if you haven't done it in a while.

I am starting to feel glad I got a studio apartment. My only complaints are that my couch wouldn't fit through the hallway door so we had to get rid of it and buy a futon, and that there are no bike racks anywhere. I will take pictures later of the apartment, but it seems to be doing its job. I just want a TV now, and my computer to finally be done in the shop...it has been sent to HP 2 times to be fixed. I really would like to start arranging music, listening to music, playing starcraft 2, watching movies, and such, since my acer has a linux based program installed that really sucks...

I am going to attach some pictures from my bike ride

View of Downtown from Short North

Lots to do in Short North

Convention Center

Mirror Lake!

Thompson Statue

Middle of the Oval

This building had a lot of numbers outside...maybe the math building?

Front of Ohio Stadium

Ohio Stadium Scoreboard, They make it so you can't see the field from outside

The Big Decision in Life!

I wanted to put this up a week ago, but got caught up in many personal things which have gotten me a little down and sad recently. With that being said, performed Pictures at an Exhibition last night...Bydlo was great minus one frack, and my main tuning slide fell out while playing on the Great Gate of Kiev (too much air I guess). Played the Lebedev Concert Allegro tonight, and it did NOT go as well as expected. I guess it went well because I got praise from non-brass music professors, but with my 2nd valve sticking on my CC and not really ready, I am just not happy with the performance.

So while sanding down my valve guide, I realized I have what is called performance frustration. I get knots in my throat, body gets tense, and I have to fight to have the big, dark tone I am known for. I guess the ONLY cure is to RELAX and RELAX IN LIFE. All my TMJ problems can probably be linked to stress and hard work...as a dentist said (thus the neck pains and such related are all due to stress). Relaxing is the ONE thing I need to work on, and as I start my DMA, my main goal is to RELAX, as that is the ONE thing keeping me from getting the job I need.

I need to get my CC tuba cleaned, flushed, valves aligned, new guides and springs, etc., but I just don't have $300 to do that. I will have to make do for now.

With that being said, I have decided on a DMA school. I am going to Ohio State University on the teaching associateship for tuba. I am excited about this, and am planning a visit Tuesday.