"morgan's mirror"

where have i been all my life?

Sat, 20 May 2006 01:12:39 GMT

hello! you've probably been wondering where i got off to these past months. well, i've been right here, i've just been too busy to type. but i'm going to solve that now...

step one: school.

i no longer talk about school in the present tense. it's now past tense, cause i've got my master's degree. granted, it's in music performance, so it's not worth the paper it's printed on, but i hope to put it to good use someday. maybe i'll even con myself into getting a doctorate at some point... but it won't be for a long while; once i've forgotten how much i despise writing papers!

step two: work.

at the moment, because i can't find anything better, i've reduced myself to working at houghton mifflin again this summer. the job search continues, but at least i can make some money while i look. my hours are 4am-12:30pm, which is a little rough, but there's no possible way it'll interfere with my gigging, so it works out great. anyways, sleep is overrated...

step three: love.

as of today, shelley and i have been together for 1 year, 7 months, and 11 days. anyone who's looking for minutes or seconds needs their head examined... i can honestly say that nothing i've ever experienced makes me feel as good as loving her. i think the secret to love is this; find someone as insane as you, and you can share your loonyness.maybe i'l need to find a job in oak lawn this summer so i can see her more than once a week...

step four: music.

not a day goes by that i don't eat, sleep, breathe, and mainline music. mondays, i have rock and roll with my buddy jeremy (we're looking for a bass player, if anybody's interested); wednesdays, jazz band rehearsal and rock and roll; thursdays, brass band or orchestra rehearsal, and weekends are often involving some sort of concert. that's in addition to all the practicing, by the way! but i'm finally starting to feel good about my sound on trombone, and i'm getting compliments from people who i look up to and try to emulate. i've already started working on the big pieces for the next season of orchestra, because i know i have the potential to sound fantastic on them, and i want to make sure they sound great. plus, i'm trying to butter the maestro up so he'll let me be a soloist sometime in the future ;) perhaps some arthur pryor with orchestra? hmm... :)

step five: milestone.

now that i'm done with school, i feel that a new chapter of my life is opening up, and i want to do everything in my power to make it a happy chapter. i want to try to get in shape, get rid of my debt, and just generally make myself a content, self-realized individual. good luck and godspeed, morgan...

step six: goodbye.

goodbye.

takin' my cue from amanda...

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 14:47:01 GMT

I couldn't figure out any of amanda's songs, I've decided to do my own 20 random songs thing and see if anyone can get mine...

These are the first lines of 20 random songs from my computer. If you can guess the song and the artist, you win bragging rights (but no actual prize). When correct guesses are made, I'll mark the line off! Simple enough...

Warning! I listen to a lot of weird stuff. I think only 5 or 6 are relatively easy, the rest are out there. Enjoy!

1. yeah, it goes away, all this and more but nothing in my life
2. i don't believe in an interventionist god, but i know darlin' that you do
3. breaking up or breaking through, breaking something's all we ever do
4. bury me softly in this womb, i give this part of me for you
5. now there's a dance I can see that the kids all do
6. now, she is a little queen of spades, and the men will not let her be
7. what do you mean, "i don't believe in god"? i talk to him every day
8. from distant star to this here bar, the me, the you, where are we now?
9. there’ll be times when my crimes will seem almost unforgivable
10. pulled through you, and drowning in your swirl, circling, unfolding in your will
11. forward yesterday, makes me wanna stay
12. let’s get it straight, i’m a ricochet, oh, bouncing off these walls
13. if you're a long way from home, can't sleep at night, grab your telephone, something just ain't right
14. i am in motion i am blue
15. from the minute i turned and laid my eyes on you, i had no eyes of my own
16. sleeping very soundly on saturday morning, i was dreaming i was al capone
17. some people say my love cannot be true, please believe me, my love, and i’ll show you
18. ich will dass ihr mir vertraut, ich will dass ihr mir glaubt
19. nun liebe kinder gebt fein acht, ich bin die stimme aus dem kissen
20. ain't a hope in hell, nothing's gonna bring us down

i was tagged, so here i go!

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 12:42:02 GMT

Four jobs you’ve had in your life:
1. customer service at a dry cleaning establishment
2. forklift driver at houghton mifflin co.
3. l.e.o. assistant manager
4. private music teacher

Four movies you could watch over and over:
1. metropolis
2. lord of the rings
3. vieuphoria
4. the life aquatic with steve zissou

Four places you’ve lived:
1. 2010 regency court, geneva
2. next to a cemetary on first street, geneva
3. 226 w. locust, dekalb
4. 1305 n. annie glidden dr. apt. 16a, dekalb

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. monty python's flying circus
2. the daily show with jon stewart
3. the colbert report
4. home movies

Four places you’ve been on vacation:
1. yellowstone nat'l park
2. upper peninsula, michigan
3. somewhere in wisconsin
4. tippicanoe state park, indiana

Four websites you visit daily:
1. myspace.com
2. hotmail.com
3. ebay.com
4. google.com

Four of your favorite foods:
1. potatoes
2. chicken
3. pasta
4. bread

Four places you’d rather be:
1. united kingdom
2. germany
3. france
4. italy

Four albums you can’t live without:
1. motorhead, greatest hits
2. smashing pumpkins, mellon collie and the infinite sadness
3. gov't mule, gov't mule
4. soundgarden, superunknown

Four to tag: I call upon:
1. no one in particular
2. see above
3. see above above
4. see above above

a heartwarming reminder of the season ;)

Fri, 23 Dec 2005 17:46:37 GMT

When we hear the ancient bells growling on a Sunday morning we ask ourselves: Is is really possible? this, for a Jew, crucified two thousand years ago, who said he was God's son. The proof of such a claim is lacking. Certainly the Christian religion is an antiquity projected into our times from remote prehistory; and the fact that the claim is believed - whereas one is otherwise so strict in examining pretensions - is perhaps the most ancient piece of this heritage. A god who begets children with a mortal woman; a sage who bids men work no more, have no more courts, but look for signs of the impending end of the world; a justice that accepts the innocent as a vicarious sacrifice; someone who orders his disciples to drink his blood; prayers for miraculous interventions; sins perpetrated against a god, atoned for by a god; fear of a beyond to which death is the portal; the form of the cross as a symbol in a time that no longer knows the function and the ignominy of the cross - how ghoulishly all this touches us, as if from the tomb of a primeval past! Can one believe that such things are still believed? - from Nietzsche's "Human, All-Too-Human", 1878... Merry Christmas, everybody!

Mon, 26 Sep 2005 15:13:59 GMT

Nihilist Bear

Which Dysfunctional Care Bear Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

enough with the covers

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 14:13:09 GMT

bands need to start writing their own music again. i recently learned that a bunch of yahoos were contributing tracks to a queen tribute album. then, a couple of days ago i flipped to wxrt and caught most of a really horrible cover of bohemian rhapsody. the tempo was way too slow, and the guitar sounded like it was being dragged through the mud. by the end of the song, i was ready to punch the band in the face, assuming it was some crappy emo band. then the dj said that it was THE FLAMING LIPS... and i became very sad. i've always liked the flaming lips, and i didn't think it was possible for them to suck. i've lost a little bit more faith in humanity...

but i also recently purchased the first season of the muppet show on dvd, and that restored my faith in humanity.

p.s. - jason, i'm sorry i bad-mouthed the lips, but if you hear the tune, i think you'll agree. plus, bohemian rhapsody is so iconic, i don't think anyone should cover it. EVER!

i think i broke the futurama quiz...

Wed, 25 May 2005 01:08:01 GMT

What Futurama Character are you?

Starburst

Starburst is fruity candy. It is so yummy.

Click Here to Take This Quiz
Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

You scored as Chewbacca.

</td>

Chewbacca

72%

Anakin Skywalker

69%

Obi Wan Kenobi

69%

Yoda

56%

R2-D2

53%

General Grievous

50%

Mace Windu

50%

Clone Trooper

47%

C-3PO

47%

Darth Vader

47%

Padme Amidala

44%

Emperor Palpatine

28%

Which Revenge of the Sith Character are you?
created with QuizFarm.com

i wouldn't have thought so, but it certainly makes sense...

Tue, 17 May 2005 22:49:52 GMT

You scored as Idealist. Idealism centers around the belief that we are moving towards something greater. An odd mix of evolutionist and spiritualist, you see the divine within ourselves, waiting to emerge over time. Many religious traditions express how the divine spirit lost its identity, thus creating our world of turmoil, but in time it will find itself and all things will again become one.

</td>

Cultural Creative

69%

Idealist

69%

Postmodernist

63%

Romanticist

56%

Existentialist

56%

Fundamentalist

56%

Materialist

50%

Modernist

44%

What is Your World View? (corrected...hopefully)
created with QuizFarm.com

this guy is the coolest!

Sat, 14 May 2005 03:10:49 GMT

You are 'juggling'. Jugglers, tumblers, and other
street performers were a very popular sort of
entertainment once, before movies and talkies
and online quizzes supplanted them.

You like to put on a show for people, and they like
to watch. You are friendly and well-liked,
particularly for your sense of humor, although
you sometimes play with people's heads. You
are frequently the center of attention, and you
like it that way. However, you have to realize
that the world does not revolve around you.
Furthermore, you have to learn that your
light-hearted antics are not appropriate to all
situations. Your problem is that juggling has
been obsolete for a long time.

What obsolete skill are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

first, you get the chocolate... then, you get the moose!

Sat, 30 Apr 2005 17:47:22 GMT

Swedish Chef!
You scored 68 Mood and 68 Energy!

You are happy and energetic. People just love being around you and your infectious energy. You're good at entertaining people without even trying, and you make a mean lutefiske.

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 75% on Mood

You scored higher than 64% on Energy

Link: The Muppet Personality Test written by TheLadyEve on Ok Cupid

rock show!

Fri, 29 Apr 2005 14:48:40 GMT

woo! last night, i went to see the jimmy chamberlin complex... at the chicago field house! a t. rex skeleton, two stuffed elephants, me, and the rockin'-est band ever! they played a great set, basically all the tunes from their album. i was right up front, i could have reached out and touched the bassist. but the best part was the macho drunk guy. he was actign like a doofus and bothering this guy and his girlfriend right next to me and my buddies. the boyfriend turned around and yelled at him, and then the doofus rolled up his sleeve and brandished his bicep. like a neanderthal, he was! anyway, he kept bothering this couple and making it completely obvious, so security came by and escorted him away. everybody around us started applauding and cheering, and we made the band look up to see what was going on. it was great! and i got to hang out with fellows that i hardly ever see anymore, since i'm not in geneva much. in fact, one of the guys, larry, and i are going to try to spend some time songwriting this summer. he plays keyboards like few people i've ever seen, so it should be productive. i can't wait to work with him. anyway, i must go. take care!

something to do...

Thu, 28 Apr 2005 14:59:50 GMT

A is for Age: 22
B is for Booze: last stuff i got was blue moon
C is for Career: two-bit trombonist
D is for Dad's Name: Bruce
E is for Essential items to bring to a party: mojo
F is for Favorite song at the moment: Lokicat, the jimmy chamberlin complex
H is for Hometown: geneva, il
I is for Instruments you play: trombone, guitar, bass, banjo, trumpet, horn, euphonium, piano, organ, synth, saxophone, plus a few more
J is for Jam or jelly you like: all
K is for kids: perhaps someday, but not soon
L is for Living arrangements: ABYSSMAL!!!
M is for Mom's name: Pamela
N is for Name of your best friend: jeremy
O is for a Overnight hospital stays: none yet
P is for Phobia: myself
Q is or a Quote you like: one death is a tragedy... one million deaths is just a statistic. - josef stalin
R is for Relationship that lasted the longest: shelley, almost seven months now :-D
S is for Siblings: one dude, one chick
U is for Unique trait: that i don't realize how bad my jokes are
V is for Vegtable you love: onion
W is for Worst trait: i'm too wishy-washy, like charlie brown
X is for X-rays you've had: just teeth
Y is for Yummy food you make: chicken
Z is for Zodiac sign: cancer

FIRSTS
First job: geneva dry cleaners
First screen name: geekusa
First funeral: great grandfather
First piercing: n/a
First tattoo: n/a
First credit card: n/a
First kiss: kate pohl
First enemy: myself
First favorite band/musician: the smashing pumpkins

Lasts-
Last kiss: shelley
Last movie watched: shaun of the dead, i think
Last beverage drank: water
Last food consumed: berry cobbler
Last phone call: jeremy
Last shower: 3 years ago ;)
Last C.D. played: the smashing pumpkins
Last website visited: the sp lossless site

Single or taken: happily taken
What do you miss: jon candy
Sex: male
Hair color: blond
Natural color: blond
Eye color: blue
Makes you sad: the fact that i can't play trombone
Are you happy: most of the time
Do you want your friends to fill this out: sure

good idea, courtesy of nikki

Sun, 24 Apr 2005 20:39:09 GMT

1. Take the lyrics to a favourite song.

2. Go to Google Language Tools,
translate the lyrics into German,
then from German to French,
and finally from French back into English.

3. Post the results verbatim.

4. Invite friends to guess the song based on the interesting new lyrics.

Here's mine.

"to disarm they they a smile and to cross they they to want they to wish me this little child me and a such part them towards the interior to cut Ooh, fire, it I to maintain, a little boy, it in my shoe then old and that to choose I my choice, that a boy, who to make have? Is the murderer in me the murderer in you my loves which I disarm more rueber you this smile you a smile and you leave send, as they fade here to me in the refusal the bitterness of one that which is left alleinOoh, annual fire Ooh, the years burns, burn, burn me used to be a little boy left which is old in my shoes then and which I am my voice chosen, which a boy am who must make? The murderer in me is the murderer in you my loves which me you this smile of rueber smart to which murderers in me send the murderer in you this smile are more rueber to which murderers in me send the murderer in you this smile are more rueber to which murderers in me send the murderer in you this smile are more rueber"

(it looks like it gave up on some of the words :) )

survey!!!!!

Tue, 05 Apr 2005 16:27:54 GMT

Your gender: male
Straight/Gay/Bi: straight
Single?: no
If not, do you want to be?: not for all the material possessions in the world
Birthdate: 9 July 1982
Your age: 22
Age you act: 6, maybe 7
Age you wish you were: 62
Your height: 6'1"
Eye color: blue, i'm told
Hair color: blonde-ish, so i'm told
Happy with it?: as long as it sticks around
Your family: mom, dad, sister, and brother
Have any pets?: no
What's your job?: LEO assistant manager, radio personality for nsradio and wlbk
Piercings?: just a hole in my head ;)
Tattoos?: not now, not ever
Obsessions?: music, and comedy greats like the marx brothers and monty python
Addictions?: see above
Do you speak another language?: not very well, i've taken spanish and german
Have a favorite quote?: "How fortunate for those in power that people do not think." - Adolf Hitler

Deep Thoughts About Life and You in it

Do you live in the moment?: i live a couple of moments ago
Do you have any secrets?: secrets and lies!
Do you hate yourself?: well, i try not to let myself know
Do you have any bad habits?: buying musical stuff
What is the compliment you get from most people?: you have the face for radio ;)
What's your biggest fear?: having to get a real job
Can you sing?: more or less
What are your #1 priorities in life?: leave something new in the musical vortex
If you were another person, would you be friends with you?: oh, yeah!
Is there anything you fear or hate about yourself?: my lack of confidence
Are you passive or agressive?: passive... to the max
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?: i'd be able to play the trombone
Do you think you are emotionally strong?: yes
Is there anything you regret doing/not doing in life?: not yet, i've still got a few years to do things
Do you think life has been good so far?: life's never so bad, it couldn't be worse... from the day you're born 'til you're riding the hearse
What is the most important lesson you've learned from life?: don't let the head bully the heart
Do you think you are good looking?: what's the most negative response i can give?
Are you confident?: a little bit
Are you perceived wrongly?: often

Do You...

Smoke?: no
Do drugs?: no
Read the newspaper?: yes
Talk to strangers who IM you?: i try to figure out who they are first
Sleep with stuffed animals?: not since a week ago...
Take walks in the rain?: only when it's raining and i have to be outside
Talk to people even though you hate them?: i avoid it if i can
Drive?: other people crazy! ZING!
Like to drive fast?: no more than i like to drive slow

Would or Have You Ever?

Liked your voice?: hearing my voice over the radio is still a strange thing to me
Hurt yourself?: when i trip over things
Been out of the country?: once
Been in love?: not been, am
Had a medical emergency?: no emergencies yet
Had surgery?: nothing invasive, i had a couple moles removed back in the day
Ran away from home?: no
Gotten beaten up?: a few times, but i deserved it :)
Beaten someone up?: no, i use my wits
Been picked on?: since day one
Been on stage?: yes, it's fun and frightening at the same time
Thought about suicide?: a few times, never seriously
Pulled an all nighter?: once, i was on a decomissioned sub in michigan
If yes, what is your record?: i didn't keep count
Talked on the phone all night?: i can't stand conversations on the phone
Slept together with the opposite sex w/o actually having sex?: numerous times
Made out with a stranger?: once, and he didn't enjoy it!
Had sex with a stranger?: no
Thought you're going crazy?: going? i'm already there!
Been betrayed?: never with a mean spirit, sometimes i just place confidence in the wrong people
Had a dream that came true?: yes, but most of my dreams shouldn't, like when i was mauled by a bear on my 8th birthday, who then proceeded to eat my cake
Broken the law?: no
Have you ever killed an animal by accident?: not to my knowledge
On purpose?: not applicable
Told a secret you swore you wouldn't tell?: no
Stolen anything?: i plead the 5th
Been in a mosh-pit?: no
Had a nervous breakdown?: almost
Bungee jumped?: no
Had a dream that kept coming back?: many and often

Beliefs

Belive in life on other planets?: i hope humanity isn't the top rung of the ladder!
Astrology?: no
Magic?: it was a fun card game
Ghosts?: they probably are real
Luck?: "in my experience, there's no such thing as luck."
Love at first sight?: it took about 4 years to get going, but yes :)
Yin and yang (that good cant exist w/o bad)?: yes, duality is the key
Witches?: i haven't met one yet
Easter bunny?: i almost ran over a rabbit on easter, does that count?
Believe its possible to remain faithful forever?: yes
Believe theres a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow?: rainbows don't have ends, they're just an optic trick
Do you wish on stars?: usually i'm on earth when i wish... ZING!

Friends

Do you have any gay/lesbian friends?: yeah
Who is your best friend?: the other half of my schizophrenia
Who's the one person that knows most about you?: phil
What's the best advice that anyone has ever given to you?: don't listen to yourself
Your favorite inside joke?: i don't think i have any inside jokes
Thing you're picked on most about?: my bad jokes
Who's your longest known friend?: jeremy
Talking to?: no one
Newest?: i don't keep track of when friendships start
Shyest?: phil
Funniest?: andy
Sweetest?: robyn
Closest?: jeremy
Weirdest?: mark
Smartest?: corey
Friends you miss being close to the most?: corey, dan, jesse
Last person you talked to online?: jeremy
Who do you talk to most online?: jeremy
Who are you on the phone with most?: jeremy
Who do you trust most?: if i didn't trust them, i wouldn't consider them friends
Who listens to your problems?: just about everybody
Who do you fight most with?: jeremy
Who's the most outgoing?: jason
Who's the best singer?: phil
Do you always feel understood?: sometimes
Do you trust others easily?: if they've earned it
Who's house were you last at?: shelley's
Name one person who's arms you feel safe in: i don't need to be in someone's arms to feel safe... i can handle myself
Do your friends know you?: more or less

Love and All That

Do you consider love a mistake?: never
What do you find romantic?: communication without saying a word, sacrifice, a clear night
Turn-on?: when the switch is in the up position
Turn-off?: down position
First kiss?: junior year, college
Do you prefer knowing someone before dating them or going out? i did
Have you ever wished it was more socially acceptable for a girl to ask a guy out: it doesn't matter to me
Have you ever been romantically attracted to someone physically unattractive: probably
Do you think the opposite sex finds you good looking?: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
What is the worst thing about the opposite sex?: their cooties
What's the last present someone gave you?: shelley gave me the pythons autobiography... sweet!
Are you in love?: very much so

Who Was the Last Person...

That haunted you?: the late pope was bothering me a couple of nights ago, that's how i found out he died...
You wanted to kill?: killing's not the answer, man!!!
That you laughed at?: i laugh at too many people to keep them straight
That laughed at you?: shelley
That turned you on?: shelley
You went shopping with?: george washington... ZING!
That broke your heart?: it's not a concern anymore
To disappoint you?: dubya
To ask you out?: shelley
To make you cry?: my great-grandmother, cause she died
To brighten up your day?: shelley
That you thought about?: ... duke ellington... but not in THAT way...
You saw a movie with?: shelley
You talked to on the phone?: shelley
You talked to through IM/ICQ?: jeremy... wasn't this question above somewhere?
You saw?: lisa reynolds
You lost?: my mind!!!

Right This Moment...

Are you going out?: of my mind!!!
Will it be with your significant other?: next time, i'm sure it will
Or some random person?: no
What are you wearing right now?: clothes
What are you worried about right now?: this warmer weather
What book are you reading?: pythons autobiography... it's huuuge!
What's on your mousepad?: the dell logo
Use 5 words to describe how you're feeling: overheated, worn out, relaxed, expectant
Are you bored?: no
Are you tired?: no, it's only noon
Are you talking to anyone online?: no
Are you talking to anyone on the phone?: no
Are you lonely or content?: quite content
Are you listening to music?: i'm listening to the duke and his orchestra

more useless morgan information...

Tue, 08 Mar 2005 16:40:42 GMT

What is your name? morgan clement snyder
Spell your name backwards: redyns tnemelc nagrom
Date of birth: 9 july 1982
Occupation? student, musician
Hair color: darkish blonde
Eye color: blue
Age: 22
Pets: none
Number of candles you blew out on your last birthday cake? i can't remember, probably one
Piercings? some might say i have a hole in my head, but i think they're just giving me a hard time
Shoe size: 13-14
Righty or lefty? righty (tighty, lefty loosey...)
Wearing: average morgan clothes
Eating/drinking: nothing

~Favorites~
Color: orange
Food: i don't really have one favorite, i like lots of foods
Song: 33, the smashing pumpkins (it was the first one to come to mind of many)
Show: monty python's flying circus
School Subject: history
Band/singer: billy corgan (of the marked, starchildren, the pumpkins, zwan, and now a solo artist!)
Outfit: anything that would normally be found in my wardrobe
Radio station: 102.9 lasalle/peru, 1360 dekalb/sycamore
Movie: i'm going to go with spinal tap for the purposes of this survey
Pair of shoes: the ones i have on now
Actor: john cusack
Actress: cate blanchett
Potato chip: regular
Drink: root beer
Holiday: boxing day
Book: all quiet on the western front, any tolkein
Computer game: i don't play any computer games
Number: zero
Cereal: honey nut cheerios
Dessert: pie
Teacher: dr. klonoski
Candy bar: butterfinger
Magazine: newsweek?
hot drink: hot chocolate
Season: winter
Sport to watch: billiards
Person to talk to online: you!

~Your Bedroom/Sleeping Habits~
What color are your sheets? tan, maybe...
What color are your bedroom walls? they were once white
Do you have stuff on your wall? yes
If so of what? a 78 of arthur pryor's band
Do you have a tv in your bedroom? yes
How many pillows are on your bed? one
What size bed do you have? twin, maybe...
Do you have a waterbed/bunkbed/daybed? none
Do you have your own phone line in your bedroom? coming through my cell
Do you listen to music while trying to fall asleep? not too often
Do you have an alarm clock in your room? no
What color is the carpet in your room? brown, maybe...
What's under your bed? any number of evil monsters

~Name Game~

What/Who Do You Think Of When You Hear These Common Names?:

Jack: skellington
Tiffany: a blond with little common sense
Ben: franklin
Maria: i'd have to agree with the boz on this one
Jennifer: ever (a pumpkins tune)
Nicole: this chick i knew from eyso, she was totally crazy (and not the good kind)
Adam: the (allegedly) first guy
Richard: pryor
Justin: this kickin' drummer who lived a block from me when i was a wee young'n
Arnold: the governator
Tom: -my tutone (867-5309)
Melissa: ridgeway
Charlotte: some pig
John: -ny b. goode
Michelle: bradbery (wink)
Kevin: smith
Jake: martin (a kid i knew in high school)
Billy: corgan
Sarah: abraham's wife, if memory serves
Nick: that drummer jason and i used to play with
Linda: once again, i must defer to the boz
Taylor: hanson... mmm bop
Jordan: sorry, nothing comes to mind
Jamie: killian, one of my scouting buddies
Adrian: rocky's lady friend
Alex: -ander the great
Rachel: weisz

~Have You Ever....~

Been on a diet? no
Been to a foreign country? i went to canada once
Broken a bone? no
Swallowed a tooth/cap/filling? i swallowed a piece of tooth once
Swear at a teacher? no
Dated a teacher? no
Loved someone so much it makes you cry? yes, indeed
Been to a rodeo? hopefully, i can catch a show at the rodeo someday
Been on an airplane? no
Came close to dying? i don't think so
Felt like you didn't belong? every day
Felt like the 3rd wheel? not terribly often
Smoked? no
Done drugs? no
Been arrested? no
Bowled a perfect game? not yet...
Failed/got held back? once i failed
Got perfect attendance in grade school? probably not

~Childhood Stuff~

Did you play with Barbies? not officially
Did you own Treasure Trolls? a few
Did you watch Beverly Hills 90210? no
Did you wet the bed? i plead the 5th
Did you believe there were monsters in your closet or under your bed? no
Did you wear the underwear with the days of the week on them? no, i memorized that
Did you build snowmen? no, i was too busy building snow forts
Did you cry when you scraped your knee? most of the time, i didn't notice
Were your older cousins mean to you? i'm the oldest
Did you think slinkies were cool? until they tangled
Did you think the Ninja Turtles really lived in the sewer? what was i supposed to believe, they lived in a sewer
Were you afraid of the dark? no, i was afraid of what might be in the dark

that survey thingy

Sat, 05 Mar 2005 21:12:04 GMT

Choose a band/musician: The Smashing Pumpkins
Use only the titles of songs by that band/musician to answer the questions below.

Are you male or female: "the boy"
Describe yourself: "blank"
How do some people feel about you: "behold! the nightmare"
Describe your ex boyfriend/girlfriend: disconnected
Describe how you feel about him/her: "sweet sweet"
Describe your current boyfriend/girlfriend: "perfect"
Describe how you feel about him/her: "love"
Describe your "type": "transformer"
Describe your friends: "i need you around"
Describe what you want to be: "disco king"
Describe where you want to be: "home"
Describe what you want to do: "never give up"
Describe how you live: "armed to the teeth"
Describe how you love: "consumed"
One thing you want to say to someone: "let your lazer love light shine down"

survey says...

Wed, 09 Feb 2005 15:37:12 GMT

LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATER:	Hero
WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW:	My Schenkerian Analysis textbook
FAVORITE BOARD GAME:	Risk
FAVORITE MAGAZINE:	Guitar World
FAVORITE SMELLS:	Fresh outdoor air
COMFORT FOOD:	I don't resort to food if I'm down
FAVORITE SOUNDS:	Loud, obnoxious rock 'n' roll
WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD:	Letting others down
WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING:	Why do I wake up at 6am every morning?
FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE:	Pita Pete's
FUTURE CHILD'S NAME:	Let me worry about grad school for now
FINISH THIS STATEMENT: "IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY, I WOULD":	Be able to pay for things
DO YOU DRIVE FAST:	When the posted speed limits call for it
DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL:	No
STORMS -- COOL OR SCARY:	They're cool because they're scary
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR:	2003 Ford Focus
FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK:	Rum & Coke
FINISH THIS STATEMENT,'IF I HAD THE TIME, I WOULD LOVE TO':	Practice on a regular basis... HEYO!
DO YOU EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI:	Yes
IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY COLOR, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE:	I would opt not to
GLASS HALF-EMPTY OR FULL:	It's just half
HOW MANY CITIES/TOWNS HAVE YOU LIVED IN:	2, Geneva and DeKalb
FAVORITE PLACE TO RELAX:	Next to a stereo playing some Neil Young
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH:	Billiards
WHAT IS UNDER YOUR BED:	Many grotesque monsters
TOILET PAPER/ PAPER TOWEL--OVER OR UNDER:	I honestly don't care
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

coooooray convinced me to waste time...

Mon, 17 Jan 2005 21:54:04 GMT

THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Morgan
2. Cap'n
3. Paco

THREE SCREEN NAMES YOU HAVE HAD:
1. geekusa17
2. jackbootslunk
3. heavymetalmachine

THREE THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. i tend to earn the respect of those around me
2. i make music that other people seem to enjoy
3. i think i'm funny

THREE THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. my lack of self-confidence
2. i'm out of money
3. i let people walk all over me

THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. dutch
2. scandinavian
3. maybe german and/or irish

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. ignorance
2. the masses
3. being the center of attention

THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. playing some sort of musical instrument
2. history channel and/or adult swim
3. shelley

THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. walmart shoes
2. glasses
3. my comfy fleece

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS OR MUSICAL ARTISTS (at the moment):
1. the smashing pumpkins
2. motorpsycho
3. king crimson

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE SONGS (at the moment):
1. the smashing pumpkins - jesus loves his babies
2. motorpsycho - kill some day
3. inspector owl - this song is about space

THREE NEW THINGS YOU WANT TO TRY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS:
1. recording an album
2. go on a campling trip
3. figure out what i'm going to do after i get my masters degree

THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP
1. michelle
2. marie
3. bradbery

TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE (in no particular order)
1. the world is round
2. the sky is blue
3. morgan is cool

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX (or same) THAT APPEAL TO YOU:
1. lips
2. eyes
3. fingers/hands

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1. music
2. reading
3. watching specials on the history channel

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. know that i have a job
2. rock
3. drop jazz band

THREE CAREERS YOU'RE CONSIDERING:
1. professional musician
2. professional musician
3. professional musician

THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:
1. britain
2. continental europe
3. yellowstone

THREE KID'S NAMES:
1. sam
2. alex
3. rachel

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. rule the world
2. make a difference
3. relax

THREE WAYS I AM STEREOTYPICALLY A BOY
1. what exactly constitutes a charasteristic of a stereotype male?
2.
3.

THREE WAYS I AM STEREOTYPICALLY A CHICK
1. see above, but for girls
2.
3.

THREE CELEB CRUSHES
1. nobody
2. nobody
3. nobody

THREE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO TAKE THIS QUIZ NOW:
1. anyone
2. who
3. wants to kill time

i don't have anything important to update about...

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 19:07:04 GMT

... so i'm filling out another blog survey!

TEN random things about me
01. i cry whenever i hear harry chapin's "cat's in the cradle"
02. i'm a rock and roll star trapped in a classical trombonist's body
03. i can count the amount of people who appreciate my humour on the fingers of one hand
04. i own six trombones, three guitars, and a synth
05. i can sing, but i really shouldn't
06. i'm a big fan of flock of seagulls... seriously!
07. i play a lot of instruments, but none of them very well
08. self-confidence is a bit lacking
09. i read "the hobbit" and "the lord of the rings" about five or six times before i knew they were making movies about it
10. i am the happiest fellow on the face of the earth, cause i'm in love with the coolest girl ever

NINE places I've visited
01. yellowstone park
02. disney world
03. door county
04. mackinaw island
05. toronto
06. springfield
07. oak lawn
08. ravinia
09. symphony center

EIGHT things I want to do before I die
01. visit and/or live in europe
02. make a rock and roll record
03. find some cool folks to rock with
04. buy a gretsch white falcon
05. genuinely amuse matt o'dell (heyo!)
06. learn how to cook interesting things
07. earn a living by making music
08. wrestle a polar bear, then befriend him and fight crime together

SEVEN ways to win and keep my heart
01. put up with my jokes
02. don't let me get down on myself
03. don't let me get away with less than my best
04. learn the finer points of heart transplant...?
05. keep me in touch with the childish, immature side of me
06. smile
07. be michelle marie bradbery

SIX things I believe in (tough one)
01. dualism
02. laughter being the best medicine
03. man's endless ability to devise ways to bring misery to his fellow man
04. britney spears is the antichrist
05. nothing is more important than those you care about
06. aliens are abducting wackos and probing them (anally)

FIVE of my favorite items in my room (let's pretend I am unpacked!)
01. my acoustic guitar
02. my mellon collie shirt (thanks, shelley! ;) )
03. my cd's
04. the book of schubert art songs that jeremy got me for christmas (woo!)
05. my fleece

FOUR things I'm afraid of
01. myself
02. running out of money
03. letting other people down
04. international communism

THREE things I do every day
01. wake up
02. make music
03. watch the history channel

TWO things I'm trying not to do right now
01. get too silly with this survey
02. find something else to do besides practice some more :)

ONE person I want to see
01. i'll give you three guesses... here's a hint; i don't want to see henry kissinger...

walking in a winter wonderland, aka dekalb...

Fri, 07 Jan 2005 15:28:46 GMT

woo! snow! this is the best time of the year! so i decided to go for a little walk around dekalb, and enjoy the winter weather before it leaves again. i ended up wandering around for an hour before i found myself at the music building, so i decided to warm up for a bit and then head back. it was super cold out; once jeans get cold, they stay cold! plus, my cheekbones always freeze up, and i don't like wearing scarves or face masks, so they're not going to get a chance to thaw out!

and now, for something completely different...

woo! shelley! i'm going to oak lawn later today to see her for the first time in two weeks, fresh off her disney trip! i've never missed anyone as much as i missed shelley, even though we got to chat on the phone every couple of days. but enough with the mushy-mushy... :)

i'm going to apply for a couple of jobs today (one's delivery, arrgh!), hopefully one of those will pan out, cause i'm starting to get to the point where i desperately need money, for food, bills, satisfying my insatiable appetite for musical paraphenalia, etc.

well, have a nice day, all!

i felt like wasting time, too... (i've seen this family guy before)

Thu, 06 Jan 2005 04:57:07 GMT

CURRENT

- Current Clothes: gray shorts and a white t-shirt
- Current Mood: antsy
- Current Music: working on my own
- Current Taste: water
- Current Make-up: 70% cool, 25% goofy, and 5% useful ;)
- Current Hair: my own, i don't like scalping people
- Current Smell: my room freshener
- Current thing: just hanging out, you know, whatever...
- Current Desktop Picture: a still from "metropolis"
- Current Favorite Artist: schubert
- Current Favorite Group: inspector owl
- Current Book: i'm not reading anything at the moment
- Current CD in CD Player: david bowie... ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!
- Current tape in VCR: reservoir dogs
- Current Color Of Toenails: the normal color (polka dot)
- Current Refreshment: water
- Current Worry: the baggage retrieval system at heath row

[ LAST PERSON .. ]
- You Touched: matt o'dell
- You Talked to: my mom
- You Hugged: lisa k
- You Instant messaged: corey wills
- You Yelled At: jeremy (he couldn't hear me over the loud)
- You Kissed: the lovely ms. shelley

[ FAV0RITE .. ]

- Foods: mexican, oriental
- Drink: iced tea
- Color: orange
- Album: mellon collie and the infinite sadness
- Shoes: ones without holes in them!
- Candy: mike n' ike
- Animal: penguins and cats
- TV Show: monty python's flying circus
- Song: how do you choose a favorite song? well, okay... soma
- Vegetable: onion
- Fruit: apple
- Cartoon: the rocky and bullwinkle show

[ ARE Y0U .. ]
- Understanding: as often as i can be
- Open-minded: yes
- Arrogant: not seriously
- Insecure: most of the time
- Interesting: i try not to be!!
- Easily Amused: indubitably
- Hungry: no
- Friendly: say that again, and i'll smash your face!
- Moody: as in "the [blank] blues"? oh, yeah!
- Childish: at heart, and the other ways
- Independent: far too much!
- Healthy: let me put it this way... i should be dead any minute now...
- Emotionally Stable: i'd say so
- Shy: not really
- Difficult: i'm not easy! heyo!
- Bored Easily: i'm sorry, you were saying?...
- Messy: i wallow in my own filth
- Thirsty: no
- Responsible: ha!
- Obsessed: yes, with being objective... figure that one out, if you will!!!
- Angry: hardly ever
- Sad: well, i haven't seen shelley for a week and a half, but that'll be fixed soon
- Happy: eh, i can't complain
- Trusting: i take quite a bit at face value
- Talkative: as the great theodore roosevelt once said, "speak softly and carry a big stick." as far as sticks go... well, let's just say i've got both of those qualifications covered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)

[ WH0 D0 Y0U WANT T0 .. ]
- Kill: illinois nazis
- Slap: nazis from other states
- Tickle: your fancy... heyo!
- Look Like: clint howard. ha!
- Talk To Offline: shelley

[HAVE Y0U EVER ..]
- Been kissed?: that i have
- Done Drugs?: nothing dangerous, but this one time at scout camp...
- Eaten an entire box of Oreos? no, i usually eat the oreos, not the box
- Been on stage? yes
- Dumped Someone? no, i'm the one that got dumped
- Gotten in a car accident? well, i got into demos's mothership a couple of times. heyo!
- Been in love? AM in love

[ FAV0RiTE .. ]
-Shampoo? the jewel house brand
-Soap? the beer soap shelley's mom makes
-Room in your house? jeff's room ;)
-Instrument? the human voice

[ either/0R .. ]
-Coffee or hot chocolate? hot chocolate
-big or little? in regards to...?
-Lace or satin? i prefer burlap, myself!
-New or old? old, things don't get made like they used to
-Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt? brad cruise! (or tom pitt)
-Vogue or Cosmopolitan? i'm not familiar with either publication
-Jeans or cords? i wish i had some corduroys...
-Sweater or sweatshirt? if i need to be warm, either will do the trick
-T-shirt or tank top? definitely t-shirt! i don't like scaring people
-Skirt or dress? my legs are a bit hairy for skirts
-Wool or cotton? i like wool, but cotton is a close second
-Rose or Lily? the rose (black in color) ;)
-Oldies or pop? i like both oldies and soda!!!!!
-Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? i have a girlfriend
-Do you have a best friend? definitely shelley

[ iN THE LAST 24 H0URS, HAVE Y0U .. ]

- Cried? no
- Helped someone? yes
- Bought something? yeah, i bought a keyboard damper pedal off of ebay, hopefully it'll jive with my synth
- Gotten sick? no
- Gone to the movies? nope, no money
- Gone out for dinner? see above
- Said "I love you"? no, but i've been saving them up in backlog ;)
- Written a real letter? like the ones in the alphabet?
- Moved on? yes, "up to the east side"
- Talked to an ex? no, not for a long, long time...
- Missed an ex? i miss hanging out with kate, she's super-cool!
- Talked to someone you have a crush on? no. well, except jeff...
- Had a serious talk? no
- Missed someone? very much so!
- Hugged someone? no
- kissed someone? no
- Been kissed? no
- Fought with your parents? no, we're actually getting along... amazing!
- Fought with a friend? no

[ D0 Y0U .. ]
- Wear eye shadow? no... maybe i should...
- Put on a "front"? i'm always as confused about me as everyone else
- Have a crush on someone? no
- Eat with your mouth open? sorry, folks... no
- If you got a tattoo, were would you put it? the temple... but it's never going to happen
- What color is your floor/carpet in your room? reddish, perhaps?
- How did you spend last summer? working, and drowning in many misconceptions
- When's the last time you showered? june
- Are you lonely? no, i have futurama to keep me company
- Are you happy? i'll say! i just got word that shelley's back in chicago, safe and sound! WOOOOO!
- Are you wearing pajamas? yes, such that they are (gym shorts and an undershirt)
- Are you talking to someone online? no, stupid gaim won't stay up...
- What is your astrological sign? cancer, one of the major killers of the modern era!

i am falling apart...

Tue, 04 Jan 2005 21:48:42 GMT

so! within 3 days, i managed to put two rather large holes in my fingers from playing bass, put a sizeable dent in my leg from slipping on the frozen rain, and sleep on my neck incorrectly, so i can't turn my head at all today. i didn't think the human body was supposed to fall apart until at least 30... ;)

yeee-ouch!

Tue, 04 Jan 2005 02:49:19 GMT

the best thing about new year's: getting to hear from shelley for the first time since she left for disney world.

the worst thing about new year's: too much rum.

this evening, i drove from geneva to dekalb throught the freezing rain. at one point, the ice on the road really caught up with me and i completely spun off the road. fortunately, i was out in the middle of nowhere, but i was wondering... is it a problem that, instead of getting all freaked out and panicky, i ended up with an overwhelming sense of excitement? granted, it could have been dangerous spinning out of control at 60 mph, but it was so much fun!

yeah, i'm wacky. i know.

Fri, 24 Dec 2004 23:07:28 GMT

1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before? accept a position with a profesisonal orchestra

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? i don't wait until new year's to make resolutions, i make resolutions whenever i need to

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? god will tomorrow! ;)

4. Did anyone close to you die? nope

5. What countries did you visit? molvania (the best made-up country ever!)

6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004? musical talent (heyo!)

7. What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? october 8th, because shelley and i finally found each other :)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? finally putting some rock and roll on tape, even if it's poorly played

9. What was your biggest failure? i couldn't tell you, nothing was really big enough to stick in memory

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? i bruised a few ribs back in february, but nothing i couldn't bounce back from

11. What was the best thing you bought? a couple of keyboard instruments which should have cost me over $600, but i got for $80

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? i guess it would be inappropriate of me to say scott peterson... so i'll go with his attorney for not getting him off the hook

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? i don't throw stones, cause i live in a glass house

14. Where did most of your money go? away

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? hanging out with the bradberys this winter break

16. What song will always remind you of 2004? chesire smile, mine and jeremy's tune (see #8)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? i don't keep tabs well enough to make that call
iii. richer or poorer? less money, more spiritual riches though

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? making music

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? wasting time on doomed ventures

20. How will you be spending Christmas/Hanukah?
Christmas Eve: eating dinner with my family, hanging out with said family
Christmas Day: going to oak lawn to see shelley and the rest of the bradbery clan

21. What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in 2004? i don't take myself seriously enough to get embarrased

22. Did you fall in love in 2004? very much so

23. How many one-night stands? that's not my bag, baby

24. What was your favorite TV program? monty python's flying circus, futurama, anything on the history channel

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? while i certainly ascribe to the dualist philosophy, i haven't found any hatred yet to balance the love i've found. but i'm currently taking applications!!! ;)

26. What was the best book you read? all quiet on the western front. go read it if you haven't!

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? tchaikovsky was gay

28. What did you want that you received? nothing terribly important

29. What did you want and not get? a pony

30. What was your favorite film of this year? return of the king

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? i saw the cso play at ravinia with jen, i was 22

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? a way to pay for grad school

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004? no fashion is good fashion...?

34. What kept you sane? being content in the knowledge that i was never sane to begin with!!!

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? billy corgan, with his new goatee! (sigh!)

36. What political issue stirred you the most? big wooden spoons... oh? they aren't political issues? well, they certainly kept me stirred (HEYO!!!)

37. Who did you miss? andy demos! he and i still think too much alike after 6 months apart

38. Who was the best new person you met? that would be ryann, jeremy's girlfriend

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004: good things come to those who wait...

and never go in on a battle of wits with a sicilian, especially when death is on the line!

i'm back, and better than ever!

Wed, 22 Dec 2004 23:27:47 GMT

hey! the internet is finally streaming back into our apartment! so i'm going to update!

this weekend was one big happy fun time! on saturday, i drove out to oak lawn to hang out with shelley's family and attend a party of one of their family friends. their son, aaron, is being shipped out to iraq the day after christmas, and they were having a "going away" party for him. now, i can't say i agree with our armed forces being in iraq, but i certainly wish aaron the very best and that he returns safely. then, on sunday, shelley and i went to geneva to have dinner with my family. i had a wonderful time with shelley all weekend, and i was so happy to see her after a whole week without her! which makes me very anxious for christmas day, because i get to see shelley again! WOO!

i hope everybody has a wonderful holiday, and i hope to see you all very soon!