Temporary Solution

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The best thing I did for myself tonight was purchase some new music. I did forget to pick up what I went shopping for, though. I wanted to pick up a book in which I could keep my state quarters (yes, I collect coins occasionally). In a strange coincidence, after getting home and checking my (snail) mail, I found a package from my mother containing a bunch of relatively old (as far back as 1876) foreign coins from my grandmother’s collection. I’m not quite sure what to do with them.

I am really digging this reggae version of Dark Side of the Moon, mon.

ACT IV SCENE I

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In which Spike loosens up a little… but continues on his quest.

The following day. SPIKE stands in the room alone.

SPIKE (to himself, apparently): I’d have fewer issues if I could just sleep at night.

ROSENCRANTZ enters.

ROSENCRANTZ: Life in a box is better than no life at all, I expect. You’d have a chance, at least. You could lie there thinking, “Well. At least I’m not dead.”

ROSENCRANTZ dies… and FIN.

The Long Drive Home

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I arrived home from the Hamptons earlier today. I had a great time out there. There were no Paris Hilton sightings, and I think I’m grateful for that. I’m not quite sure. The hotel in which I stayed wasn’t the best, but there’s really no room for me to complain. The events were wonderful, the food was fantastic, and the bottom line was I really enjoyed working the entire weekend. I had more alcohol this weekend than I’ve ever had in the same time period. That’s not to say that it was much, and I wasn’t drunk, but I managed to reach a new level of tipsiness. I’m saving my first drunken experience for a time I can be with someone I can completely trust; I’m not sure I like the idea of not being in control of myself.

I’ve digressed. There are many stories to tell about the “interesting” Hamptonites, some involving entitlement issues and congressmen impersonators, but you don’t really care to hear them.

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Antirhythm

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Here’s the deal. I have an interview tomorrow morning for a teaching position that is not really ideal. At least it’s in a high school. That’s a start. But I don’t know if I’ll take it if it’s offered to me. I guess I’ll cross that bridge later.

After the interview I’m heading out to the Hamptons. It’s weird not to be bringing someone to this event. Usually I try to share these experiences with someone, but I guess it just didn’t work out this year. I’m bringing my computer but I don’t know if I’ll have time or desire to be online—after all, it is the Hamptons. Be good while I’m away.

By the way, the band director that I would theoretically be replacing at the school where I have an interview is someone I went to high school with. As it turns out, he got the assistant band director job at our old high school. I didn’t even know that one was open.

All-Nighter

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Looks like I’ll be up all night so not to miss my plans for Sunday. If you’re up with me, take a look at some new photos I’ve put online. First there’s a set from a Yankees game at the end of July (with Barb and Melodie. Next, take a look at Darren’s birthday party that took place earlier this evening. The night consisted of barbecue, sundaes, poker, and then a viewing of the Noises Off! DVD that I made from a tape of our high school senior year play.

Back to School

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The other night, I went back to the school I was teaching earlier this year. They had their first marching band performance for their parents. There were more people in the stands for this little performance than there are for some entire marching band competitions. Anyway, they were pretty good considering they had just finished learning the show. It was great to see these kids again. A large number of them seemed to be happy to see me, too… they wanted me to come back.

Tonight I caught the movie Hero. It’s a movie about the formation of China, but in a Kurosawa sort of style. It was amazing. Beautiful. Some scenes were even more beautiful than Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which is the only thing I can compare it to even though the comparison isn’t that great.

Unfortunately most of the people in the theater weren’t prepared for an artistic film… they probably saw Quentin Tarantino’s name (who had nothing to do with the movie) in the preview and expected something a little more gory. Any artistic, intimate, or emotional scene was met with uncomfortable laughter by most of the audience. Ah well. I was really quite moved by the ending, but I get that way with movies.

Most of the images were just stunning, and the use of color—not just the color-themed personal POV in the story-telling aspect, but the general use of color throughout the film—was perfect. There were even a few cliche quick-zooms for effect. And the music? Excellent. Itzhak Perlman and the Japanese KODO Drum Ensemble, even. I will have the soundtrack. (The reviewers over at Amazon don’t seem to know the difference between a cello and a violin…) Oh yes, it will be mine.