Home!

I'm home now~!

It's nice to be home. Relaxing, not having to worry about anything but the broken foot deal. I go to the doctor tomorrow. Hoping he says everything is healed up and we can release the cast but the chances of that actually happening would be slim to none.

I was supposed to close on my house tomorrow at 4pm but an issue with the paperwork has created a bit of a wrinkle in my plan. The closing is now slated to happen at noon on Thursday. What I will do over the next three days, I have no idea. Maybe i'll imagine i'm back at VanderClasses to help the time go by

Speaking of which, the end of the summer turned out to be much much better than the beginning. I was able to get around on my crutches much better and get out in the city. Went to a Sox game, had an epic night of karaoke, and got a chance to eat at several wonderful restaurants. I will miss my VanderCook friends and hope that we are able to stay in touch throughout the school year. Now that we know we won't run into each other next summer, maybe it will be different this year. Only time will tell.

Thanks to everyone for their help this summer as I became a crippled pain in the ass. Your help was greatly appreciated. Ben, if you're reading this, I'm going to find some way to get you a Dragon's Milk.

The end is near

Holy crap! Brass methods was rough to get through today!
Luckily, we are all completely done with that class! One more day of classes, then graduation day, then leaving for home!!!!! Excited. Much excited

SCOOPS!

Tonight was our final night at Scoops. Scoops is our favorite ice cream place to eat in Chicago. Here are some pics to share

Ben must be sad that this is our last night of Scoops. Or he is looking lovingly at Donny

Mary Kate couldn't wait for the rest of us

Chris was actually the last to sit, so he didn't need to be patient

This person above ladies and gentlemen is my newest friend in Chicago. She is my doppleganger. We are both pretty much the exact same person, only with different parts.

I'm really getting into eating my ice cream

PIZZA!!!

Had the best pizza in town today. Took 5.5 weeks but we finally all made it down there together


Out at Giordano's. Amazing. I was hungry. Like a boss

Philosophy

Heard a comment from a friend today during a great conversation that was cool

"I'm not afraid of making mistakes in life, but I am afraid of missing out on it."

Thought that was pretty cool

The Riddler

So our good friend Donny has finally decided to make an appearance out in Chicago!

He is a part of the original 6 from last year and brings us closer to having everyone back together.

We all went to the White Sox game last night for some relaxation after that first day of week 6 classes. (it totally looks like my hand is around Ben's waist. Fear not...that is not my hand!)

Tonight, we are all going to Giordano's for dinner, Thursday evening will be a fun-filled karaoke night, and Friday will go out with a bang at Tuscani Restaurant.

On Saturday, we have graduation from 10am-4pm, then it is time to head home for the summer. I can't wait to get back to Ohio this year. The flair of Chicago wore off rather fast this year and I feel as though I did not get challenged in my learning. I knew the summer was going to be easy academically, but I had no idea it was going to be this bad.

At any rate, I'll be moving into my home next week. It will be pretty awesome. Mainly because I'm tired of moving every single year to a new place. Hopefully, this will be the last one for a while.

Play Contra

Remember Contra for the old-school Nintendo?

Here it is baby!

Remember the code for 30 lives is

up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, a, b, start

Thank me later

Earth Song

Earlier in my bloggage, I mentioned the song Earth Song and I told you I would get a copy of the VanderCook Graduate Ensemble singing this wonderful piece. Well, for your enjoyment, I have posted it above. I think the recording came out very well from the performance:) Hope you enjoy it as much as I did

another week

So I never thought I would be anticipating going back to Ohio as much as I currently am. I have approximately 11 more days out here and while we definitely have some fun things planned for those days (karaoke, dueling piano club, blues club, improv comedy) I can't help but feel that I will be much more calmer when I return home and turn right around and move into my new home:)

Last Saturday was the dreaded Comprehensive Exam (OOOOOH). What a joke that was. I'm glad I went my normal route of studying (which is non-existent) and spent no more than 2 or so hours looking over stuff for this thing. Yes it helps that I have a memory for tests that is amazing (wish I could apply that memory to everyday life), but honestly, I felt that it could've been much more challenging than what it was. I kicked its ass and gave it a new name.

We attempted to eat at Hot Doug's Sausage Superstore and Encased Meat Emporium that day, but due to my lack of being able to read a simple time and the blue line being all shades of messed up, we missed out. Oh well, we got to see some great improv comedy at Comedy Sportz:) That's always a good time.

Sunday, as God intended, was a day of rest. I did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! I'm so exhausted from this crutch work anyway (seriously, I have to walk so much around this campus on these things and it doesn't seem as though anyone had a handicapped person in mind while designing any of the buildings). Revolving doors are somewhat of a pain in the ass to maneuver. My favorite part just happened yesterday, I'm struggling to get into th dorm building. Scanning my card to open the door, can't get to the door in time before it locks again...It goes on like this about 3-4 times while the undergrad IIT Dorm worker is sitting on his butt watching me struggle. What a dickhole.

I've met some realy cool people out here again this year. Donny is coming for a week long MECA in week 6, so that should help the last week fly by.

I'm seriously about done with all of my work. I'm currently working on preparing a Triad Choirs blog site similar to this. Our school's website designing stuff is crap compared to using this blog program. I hope they don't force me to use the schools stuff...I'll throw a fit!

Anyway, check it out, it's just in the beginning phase of construction as I decide all the new stuff to get on there...It has a sweet layout and our calendar for the year. It'll be awesome

Week 5 is almost done.
8 more days of classes
11 more days until going home
5 more conducting classes (blech)
3 more brass methods classes
1 more trumpet lesson (which are going amazing!)

An update

So my dozens of fans have been asking why I haven't updated my blog in a while...well, as you read, I broke my foot and was dead tired just about every day after tooling around on crutches and I spent the majority of my time sleeping. So here's an update.

This has got to be one of the most painful summers ever (Yes i'm about to get all pessimist on you)
While things started out amazing, things quickly turned to hell in no time. I had my heart broken. It's so weird too because I've never experienced that kind of hurt before. It's still lingering around me, I don't know how to shake it. Then, I decided to go and break my foot. Way to go Paul. This has got to be the single most inconvenient thing I think I have ever done in my life. Not only are the crutches absolutely tiring, but it is just downright depressing to be so dependent on other people. Meanwhile, I am blessed to be around such a caring group of people that would help whenever I need it. Ben and Chris have been amazing help for me around the dorm room and getting to and from the school building. I don't think I can ever repay them for how much easier they are making this. I was able to get a ride to and from Ohio for the 4th of July weekend. Thankful that Sarah was able to help me with that. Then my parents proved how amazing they are yet again by coming out at 1 in the morning to pick me up and bring me home and then drive me out an hour and a half to get me back to Chicago. I am so thankful to have the parents I have.

The situation with my brother seems to be approaching no kind of resolve. He continues to be the close-minded piece of garbage he is and continues to treat our parents like dog shit. (and no, if you're reading this it wasn't just in the store) I think it is mainly because his girlfriend/living partner/baby mama has his balls in a vise and he can't think for himself or stand up for himself and talk to people like a human being and not F this and F that every time somebody points out a flaw.

OK, now that I'm done venting.

I have three more weeks out here in Chicago. I honestly can't wait for this summer to be done, which is sad because I was looking forward to coming out here more than anything this past school year. Maybe it's the broken foot, maybe it's the broken heart, but I just feel that I don't belong here this year. Oh well. We have comprehensive exams this coming Saturday and then who knows what we'll get into after that. This week will be devoted to studying for said exams out of hopes of graduating next summer:)

Hope everyone's life is going well.