two camps

Maybe I’ve been ignorant to it, or maybe the interaction during tour opened my eyes.  I’ve never really been involved with much in my life, but I have recently just seen the large amounts of drama in Choral Ensemble.  I briefly talked about this in the last blog, but it’s so weird to be in the middle ground of it all.

I’ve heard most of each side but in the end, I don’t see any side innocent.  I guess that’s how it is for the most part… there is no black and white.  However, there is not one shade of gray either… and the multiple shades of gray do prove that there exists a black and white.  The only problem is, I see no solid ground.  If I support any side, I am not innocent, yet if I don’t I’m merely being kind on both sides.  I could not be involved… but there are other collateral damage that comes with that.

It’s… I dont know.  It’s a shame that we have to be separate.  Throughout the entire tour, there were always at least three groups.  It’s a shame, but I don’t think the answer to solving it is as simple as some of us make it.

dig d.b.

It feels so good to be back home. Boston was fun and all, but man… theres something about being back to the familiar.

Like San Fran Tour, I’ll elaborate on the Boston Tour later–though I really dont know when I’ll have the time. In a nut shell, my first and last Choral tour was really chill. Less intense, more dramatic, but the same amount of fun and ownage. We won first place gold for jazz, gold for classical, adjudicators for both, and apparently we tied the sweepstakes… with ourselves. That was quite odd. The accomplishment that I find the most phenomenal is that we got 100 from one of the judges. A perfect score! My gosh… I know the Burroughs have never seen that in their experience. I’m still in awe.

Besides the awards, Boston’s atmosphere is very different. Besides it being quite historical, the scenery is one to just stare at for a while. Even though many of the trees were winter-dead, it’s still quite a beautiful sight. The social atmosphere isn’t the best, though. San Diego is definitely more chill and accepting. Im surprised I was able to get through Boston wearing my Yankee cap unscathed.

There were some interesting group conversations with Haus. Haus gave people conceptual gifts to show each person kindly what their flaw is and how to approach it. For example, he gave Jordon a prosthetic leg to help him see and understand someone with their imperfections. Someone else–who always corrects Haus and tells him what to do–received a blank book to show her that she does not know everything. Jordon gave Haus a block of cement that would be tied to his legs so that the weight would get his head out of the clouds. hahah. That’d be funny if Haus actually gave these gifts to each person. Haus is still thinking of a gift for me, though, I don’t think he knows me well enough to give me one… unless hes heard a buttload of gossip (which is very likely).

And then of course, the drama. The two camps. Even beyond the two camps, there was a lot of thoughts that got to me that spurted throughout the tour. I might get into detail in future blogs, but it really did drag me down throughout the tour. Heck, I’m still thinking about some of it.

But beyond the jazz, tour was pretty dang fun. Heck… April has been one full month.
Now that tour’s over, even though theres a lot of tests that are due, it just feels so good to be home.

march–a prologue to life

The plane has landed and the instrumentalists are home!  San Fransisco was a great place to chill (plus Santa Clara) and own everything!  Sweepstakes!!  I was/am so shocked that we won sweepstakes and received so many soloist awards.

But beyond all the drama, pranks, and ownage, when I got home, I was told that my Great Grandfather had passed away the day I left for tour.  Even though they’re just numbers, I was hoping for him to reach a hundred years of age.  Apparently, he had received gange green on his foot and had to get it amputated.  Surgery was successful, but later that day, he had passed away.
I wish I knew him more.  Even though an ocean separated us, theres still ways of communication.  I only consciously met him once: when I was six-years old.  He’s a part of me, yet like many of my elder relatives, I know very little about him.  It’s a shame, but from what I do know, he lived a good life and is with his princess.

There is a time for laughter and there is a time for reflecting.  I really don’t know how I’ll feel later today in “the class we do not speak of.”
I will elaborate on the fun that happened in the previous four days later.  In the meantime, I’ll be flying to Boston tomorrow night.  I love you all!  Instrumentalists, Choral Kids, all my friends, (family is given) and of course, I love you Juan, my great grandfather.

define fun

San Fransisco Tour in less than 3 days.  THAT IS INTENSE.  Despite the fact that I don’t believe Wind Ensemble is ready, I’m pretty pumped.  Once the weather cools down a bit and Wind Ensemble has its last run through, I’ll probably be really stoked.

It’s funny how many alliances formed this year.  There’s the blood pact alliance (which simmered down) and amy’s alliance and probably some other random stuff here and there.  At first I just wanted to have a small coalition with just Tracy, Chris Iroz, and maybe Adrian if he was still down.  Then I was torn because Tracy obviously would join Heath’s alliance, yet there was some rumors about Hutch (who was/is/something part of Heath’s alliance) was going to attack one of my roomies, so my loyalty was split.  This lunch, I decided to somewhat join Heath’s alliance… though… it’s not really a join.  It’s more of a non-aggression pact and maybe some aide.

But after the bell rung, I just thought to myself.  This is my last tour with these guys.  Do I really want to spend possibly a majority of my time jumping people?  I mean, yeah… it’s hella fun.  I remember getting the kid next door last year hahah.  Phillip was a great roommate.
Even though it’s fun to do pranks, what’s more fun is interacting with friends.  Yes, one can interact when pranking, but I want to spend time with those I may not see for a while.  Respark some old friendships.  Seattle Tour of 06 was amazing yet I didn’t prank a single person.

So basically, I don’t really have a stance on “whos side” Im on.  I wont backstab Heath, but to say I will spend my energy focused to jump people isn’t necessarily true.  Maybe Im Switzerland with an agenda… how about that? hahah

Anyways… Tour should be amazing.
I’m ready to own any other Saratoga that gets in our way

fin

It’s been good.  Urinetown has been very good. Even though I’ve seen multiple shows at SCPA, I can’t compare the experience in Urinetown to any other.  All I know is that it has been a blast.I’ve been able to bond with so many people.  Even though my grades have suffered greatly, I don’t think I’d trade this experience for a thing.  Thank you to all who pushed me to “audition.”

The finale of the show did not hit me as powerful as many of my other friends did.  If I was a part of more shows, I think I’d be right along side my friends who felt the bittersweet taste of being the last show.  Even though I didn’t show my emotions, it was a strong reflection that graduation is coming so soon.  I really don’t know how I’ll feel when the final words are spoken at the Circle of the Sun.

What I really desire, even when it’s all done and said, is that these memories don’t stay in a box (figuratively).  That these friendships don’t stay as mere memories, but continue to flourish as the years pass.  Even though I may have friends across the country, I do hope to stay in touch with them.  That way, even though I may weep, I will still know that it isn’t over.
In the end, of everything I’ve received at school, next to music, the one thing I hope to retain are the friendships.
I guess we’ll see…

my ocean and me

Today’s lunch group was quite meager, but I think we all were expecting it, seeing how today was L7 ditch day.
After the days events, I really wish I went. First of all, I had no clue where anybody was meeting, and second, I felt compelled to practice in Choral and Wind Ensemble, seeing how tour is less than two weeks. Also there were tests in Government and Stats, but that was the least of my concerns.

Sadly, being compelled to practice was a bad idea, seeing how we did nothing in Wind Ensemble. It’s crazy how we can’t get ANYTHING done without Paige being there. The first hour of the period was spent “warming up.” Paige was gone because she was helping Haus with the Choral tour so we were aimlessly playing. Personally, I think some action should have been made so that we could do sectionals for the first half of the period–seeing how the saxophones definitely need it.
Once the clock hit 12:45PM, Roach finally took the initiative to try to conduct Wind Ensemble. But even when someone tries to help the group, the whole class turns against him and acts like a bunch of idiots. Do they realize how soon tour is? 10 DAYS. Thats less than 14,400 minutes and theyre wasting .8% of how much time we have left! And then there are certain people I lose respect for when they are mad outside class that we do nothing, yet the contribute to the noise during the period.
I seriously felt like just yelling and/or rebuking the entire class. But what would that do? What credibility do I have to silence the crowd? I’ll be on tour with them and negative vibes before tour aint cool. It takes someone people actually respect to silence them all… and fortunately James came to the rescue. Paige came later to teach the last 15 minutes of our class, but in all honesty, we’re doing a pitiful job. Wind Ensemble is the only class that has competition in San Fransisco… no one really needs to practice as much as we do, yet we fool around the most.

So besides Choral Ensemble and the extra credit points we got in government, I regret not going to the L7 hang out. I haven’t been to sunset cliffs in such a long time and I haven’t really hung out with my friends at all either. It seems that the ebb of friendship has begun again, leaving the low tides in my small pool. Every time my lake of friendship ebbs, it seems that I never fully get back what I lose.
Maybe I’m not being proactive.
Great. I’ve crossed this line again. I’ve learned nothing, gained nothing since my last encounter with the same problem. I guess theres only one way into this building. There is no back entrance nor breaking and entering. If I want to enter; if I want to enter this building, then I gotta knock.

So yeah: that’s life right now. Tour and buildings.

And… Happy birthday Adrian! I hope this 18th year is a blessed one… I just hope you dont get a 5×5 for your bday -.-

first and last

Even though it’s my first and last musical, I’m glad to be a part of Urinetown.  Regardless to whether or not I agree with their ideas, it’s well written, hilarious, and… just fun overall.  Urinetown is quite unique in that it makes fun of both capitalism and socialism at the same time.  The whole experience kind of makes me wish that the contemporary wheel didn’t stifle my desire to be a part of drama.

Beyond the show itself, the pre-shows are always fun.  Thursday, I went with Lorenzo, Hannah, Catie, and Ryan to Balboa Park.  Before getting there, we drove around Hillcrest and southern North Park.  Seeing Florida Street and the junction to 163N gave me good memories of my childhood.  From there we snuck to Doyles house, and wrote him a note with our stage names.
At Balboa, Ryan went to rehearsals while the rest of us walked aimlessly.  We ended up at the wishing well near the Prado and started singing some CE songs, lacking a soprano.  Had a good talk, good posed fights, and good jokes.

Following day was with a different crowd: Sarah G, Kristine, Hannah L, Lorenzo, Megan F, Awesta, and Hayley.  It wasnt until Friday that I knew it was possible for a group of kids to stay in a fast food restaurant for over two hours.  Pretty good stuff   Like Megan, it was fun just observing other people talk whatnot.  It was even more fun getting “refills.”  (Inspired by Dustin of 06: he was once at Taco Fiesta when he ran out of soda… couldn’t get a refill at taco… so he decided to walk over to Jack and get a fill there without being stopped or noticed).  So I decided to try out a similar path .  After Megan was done with her soda, I asked if I could borrow it so I could get a “refill.”  Lorenzo followed with the same path right after.  One cup, three people   We also were at Ralphs, but my search for sugar cubes was a failure.

Beyond the pranks and “fights,” Urinetown has been a good bonding experience.  I’ve been able to know Lorenzo, Javier, Sarah G, and a bunch of people more.  Slowly rekindled some old bonds.  And danced! hahah.  I still find it funny that Ms. Fetters was disappointed that I was a senior seeing how she wanted me to be the king in next year’s mainstage The King and I.  I dont have that great of a voice… at least a solo one. But then again, the king only has one big song in the play… if I remember it well.  But yeah, Kristine’s right.  It is odd how the year they finally have an Asian show, us 08ers have gone poof.  So… news to my Asian friends… TAKE ADVANTAGE!

There’s probably been more stuff that I’ve overlooked, but all I can say is… Urinetown has been amazingly fun.  Yes, it probably has hurt my grades… badly… but grades don’t create memories.  Memories are priceless and I’ve sure bought a lot of those by being a part of Peepeeplace.
So… for those who haven’t seen Urinetown yet, I strongly urge you to go watch!