Mid week report

So it's wednesday night finally. I have had a good and productive week so far. One test down and a few more to go, but I'm not worried about any of those. I also found out that my first conducting test went fairly well. Nothing too surprising except for a few things that i can easily fix that are funny to point out to anyone who knows conducting (statue of libery!).

Yesterday I was feeling a little down though. I dont know what it was in particular. I think it was just everything building up, and my brain saying enough is enough. So I took my own "me" time for once. I know, very odd for me folks, but it does happen occasionally. Matt talked with me when I got home, since his car was parked in front of my house for the day, and therefore, Carmen called me to ask if I was alright, because Matt thought I was that bad and was worried about me. awwww, thanks guys.

I've been thinking a lot about the music major choice the past few days as well. I dont know anymroe really. I'm going to stick with it, at least for the semester (its too late to do anything about that), but I've gotten the, "I've got to get done with a major" bug. What I've been debating in my head is the idea of finishing my engineering major first and deciding then if I want to come back and work on the music after that. This is what my mother had suggested to me in the first place. There's just some angles that I need to comtemplate and work out in my mind and on paper. It may be that I stick with the route I chose before school started. We shall see.

I've also added myself to facebook now, at the behest of Carmen. I dont know about it yet. I like how it is a way I can kinda of keep in contact with some friends from here and afar, but the junk mail is horrible. I think I need to wait a little longer and decide what I think about it. man, what's with all this waiting and thinking crap? It's like I'm in college and all I do is think now.

OOO! before I forget. I went to a PSEE (Platteville Society of Environmental Engineers) meeting tonight that was really interesting. There were two speakers from California who are both platteville grads. The female speaker was talking about how she works with modeling of water supplies to figure out when and where the best choices for water storage may be in the state of California. The gentleman talked about a new method, or I should say an old method that is finally being used called ASR (Aquifer Storage Recharge). It's a process where excess rain water is pumped into an aquifer for later use during dry seasons when water resources are being strained. Really interesting. I was also reminded how big California really is. 1 of 9 people in the USA live there!

That's the news from Platteville. Thanks for reading.
Otto III

I found this at home just before I found it, and I ment to share it on my blog for everyone since I thought it was really good. It was on a piece of wood, placed there by my Aunt Barbara and given to my mother as a gift. It was not the original since the original was found in 1692. My mother finally got a typed copy to me.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise & haste, & remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly & clearly; & listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons of yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; & everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity & disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue & loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees & the star; you have the right to be here. And weather or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors & aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery & broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

Found in Old St. Paul’s Church: Dated 1692

In other news, this weekend was really fun. Nate, for once decided to do things by the seat of his pants. Carmen and Brice almost always do this, and I do about half the time, but for Nate, this was turning over a new leaf. Well, the only thing that we had planned was to play in a wedding on saturday afternoon, so Nate, Carmen and I went downtown Wausau and found a really cool bar. There was an open mic night going on, and the guys that were playing were really amazing. Some of the songs that they played were classics, others were of their own creation. the drinks were really good and cheap for a bar this good too. And of course as Nate said, the conversation was good, but I had the best companions with me that I will ever have *tips hat*. Thanks Nate and Carmen.

That's the news from Platteville. Thanks for reading.
Otto III