HA!

Summer, Sortof

Exams are over, and I finished my final orchestration assignment which I’m going to submit tomorrow.

I landed the job working at the HSBC bank at Bloor and Avenue. I feel kind of grown up to have that kind of job. I’m being trusted with the handling of money… bloody hell. I bought some work clothes this weekend and about doubled my nice clothing… come visit me in a few weeks once I’ve been trained. I’ll pedal competitive-rate mortgages your way. Alot of my friends are scrambling for jobs… I’m glad I’m not in that boat, though there are a couple I’ve commited to helping search.

This weekend was expensive (I need to reign in my spending on transit, food and beverages)… but it was sort of a kickoff weekend, so I’m not going to feel too guilty about it. Friday night was low key – watched Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle with Jim Smith. I FINALLY watched this movie in its entirety. The first time I tried to watch it, it was Zac myself and a girl in my res room, which was fine. Except me and the girl managed to fall asleep, only to descover later that Zac had dissiapeared and there we were on my stupid res bed. It was awkward. Zac says “You CANT hold that over me. You were totally cuddling and being cute. Scott says “shut the fuck up Zac.”

Turns out it’s a damn funny movie.

Saturday I met up with a highschool friend named Leigh for coffee and we ended up hanging out all night together. It was unexpected and awesome. We met up with Ryan, a guy I’m playing in a band with, and his cousin at the Freedom Festival/Marajuana march and watched some shitty reggae, the Samba Squad (which is a massive percussion ensemble… that makes me want to drop a grand on mixed percussion instruments), and my AMAZINGLY TALENTED AND ESPECIALLY SEXY WHEN SINGING ONSTAGE friend Maya and her band King Sunshine. It was awesome. Some ridiculous drug addled hippie dancing was the icing on the cake.

We grabbed  food, went back to Ryan’s to consume illicit substances followed by Dance Cave. I met up with Erin W, Rebecca D. and Tracy W. at the Cave and had fun with those people. Me and Erin have a good thing going because sober, we feed off of eachother’s goofiness and shamelessness… in a club setting, it’s embarrasing for all parties involved. It’s a laugh riot, though, and totally worth it.

Today I finished my orchestration course, met up with Erin K and Rocky for a highschool reunion bout of Sushi eating, followed by what I concider the official kickoff to summer. I met up with a friend of mine, Samantha, who goes to school on the east coast, but even though the bulk of our relationship is online and long distance, is one of my very best friends. I got out to the west end and we just walked around and talked for hours. It was such a summer thing… even though nights are still cold. It was lovely.

This summer is going to be fantastic.

I’m envisioning an Ocean’s 11 oriented bank heist sometime in the near future. Zac says “it’ll probably be more of a ‘Snatch’ style heist, where everything hits the fan, idiot”. Scott says: “Shut the fuck up Zac”.

Damn dirty American.

I Should Really Study

I’m having trouble motivating myself to fully dive in to the studying for monday’s exam. At some point today I need to realise that I’m absolutely doomed if I don’t start immediately, and then I’ll have from that point forward, tomorrow night and both weekend days. Passing is a priority, apparently.

I interviewed for a job at a bank a few days ago, and it went well. For some reason I kind of like the concept of trying that this summer. My total stress is halved if I land it. My work stress (or out of work stress) is much greater than the exam stress… which is maybe part of the whole studying apathy thing.

My brother got into UofT. No surprises there. Good for him.

Two weeks ago I had a week dense with drama. Most of it I can take responsibility for, but it was ridiculous. I pride myself of my damage control skills in akward situations, but I failed miserably. There were three simultaneous blow ups. Two of them were with people who I didn’t want to hurt, but with one there was impact on a best friend who was connected to the indivual. Fortunately it’s resolved, however I think there may be some residual chafing.

I had dinner/caught up with someone from my past (circa late highschool, early uni) that I hadn’t connected with in eons. I feel like the few times we have seen eachother since the summer both of us have had our guard up/kept our cards close in those exchanges. This dinner did not feel like that, and it was just good. Definately motivates me to put some energy into renewing that friendship, because I get alot out of being around that person.

I’ve started my 5-6 days a week gym regimen. I’m sore as hell, but hey… it’s a really manly sore so there’s a funny satisfaction in it. I’ve convinced Zac to come with me to Hart House rather than AC (which is his preference). For those of you who don’t know, Hart House is in an old building, has great cardio equipment but a smalled weight room. AC is rife with really big guys who make you feel like an interloper. But the facility is better. Hart House is an obvious choice for me, though, because there are girls there. I mean, come on.

It’s 11:20. Clean Room. Eat Something. Study until 3. Practice. Gym. Study.

When exams are over it’ll be a bit warmer and I’m definately thinking about having another party here, this time fully employing the balcony.

Dating Tips, with Scott.

I went out for drinks with a girl tonight, and I learned a life lesson.

A bit of setup. I met up with her in her neighbourhood and we hopped in a cab to come downtown. Like a gentleman, I opened the door for her and closed it behind her and walked around and blah blah blah. Pretty standard stuff.

I paid the driver and went to get out of the cab and shut the door behind me. Into her head.

I closed the cab door into the face of my date.

…

I really thought she was going to get out of the cab on HER SIDE.

But it doesn’t change the fact that I’m as smooth as effin’ sandpaper.

Update Circa 2:10am

I have only positive things to say, which may be a result of the strange feelings I get from the ‘Joker Mad Energy’ drink that’s currently fueling me.

1. By the time I left the house at 2pm this afternoon I had 2800 words done on my 3000-3500 word paper.

2. Agnes Grossman, the visiting professor at UofT – who is an internationally renowned maestro, she used to lead the Vienna Boys Choir – was using the room I booked on Thursday to rehearse my piece. It was a bizarre experience kicking her out of the room. The rehearsal went fabulous, and I’m so confident about Tuesday’s performance of my piece.

3. KBBQ with Nancy.

4. Met with my seminar group for tuesday’s presentation. I’m not worried about this, but I was distracted because both of my group members are some of the more attractive girls at the Faculty which ALWAYS makes it hard to focus during our sessions. Shit… I really hope neither of them gander at this post. Oh well. I’d tell them both that they’re pretty to their faces.

5. Got home and did my orchestration assignment due last thursday, extended to tomorrow. It’s funny, because basically what I had to write every four bars was stated by the instructions on the assignment such as “a melody in the woodwinds accompanied by woodwinds with possible string assistance” which makes for potentially a robotic musical exercize, but even with these specific stipulations and the fact that its a rush job I feel that it turned out kind of musical. Check it out, if you dare to get a sample of my orchestration homework: http://www.yousendit.com/download/M3BsanZxU1BtUUUwTVE9PQ

6. Finished the paper. Just under 3500 words making it the longest university paper I’ve written. It’s a solid B-, maybe C+ effort, but D’s get degrees after all. They don’t get you into grad school, though, which may be a problem… erp.

7. THEORY STUDYING TIME.

Tomorrow is going to be specia, special like the olympics (to use a grade 3 or 4 phrase courtesy of public-school best friend Chris Patterson.

Originally a fantastic line, though unfortunately now a line synomous with my troll friend Anuroop: I AM A GOLDEN GOD.

University can bend over and take it.

Sunday Update

It’s Sunday at 11. I’m 800 words from being done this damn paper – which need to be written between now and 2:30.

At three I rehearse my piece for Tuesday’s concert. This is the fun part of my day.

Between fourthirty and sixthirty I need to figure out my portion of my music and autism seminar and meet with my group from sixthirty to seventhirty.

Eight to eight thirty I’ll figure out my short presentation for musical toronto tomorrow morning, from nine to eleven I’ll do my orchestration assignment and from eleven until one I’ll study for my theory final tomorrow.

And that’s my day.

*hits self in head*

Things to do between now and monday:

1. Finish research for 3000 word essay
2. Organize research for 3000 word essay/Create outline
3. Write the damn 3000 word essay
4. Study for theory final
5. Prepare for Monday’s ‘Musical Toronto’ presentation
6. Prepare for Tuesday’s ‘Music and Autism’ seminar
7. Write large orchestration assignment.
8. Rehearse my piece with musicians for Tuesday’s composition concert.

I WANT TO DIE.

… but the feeling when it’s over is going to be like opium.

Hilarious California Email

I mass emailed my musicians for my composition concert next week regarding the room for a rehearsal tomorrow, and misspell one of the trumpet player’s addresses. I’ve done this before, and received cursory ‘hey, don’t think this was meant for me’ type emails… but his one takes the cake:

__________________________________________________

Hey chief,

Not sure if I’m the Matt MacLean you meant to email. I’m some loser in southern california. I think you meant to contact somebody in Canada?
Apparently MacLeans are more common there. Here in the United States of People Dumb Enough to Vote For Bush (Twice), they can’t pronounce or spell a Scottish name to save their lives….

cheers,
-M

__________________________________________________________

This email is definately up there as one of the funniest emails ever received.

Flashback

The following was found on one of my old blogs that I just descovered STILL EXISTS. I wrote it April 13th, 2004. To timestate the entry, it was the week we started ‘One More Second’ (the second Jim Smith Band CD), I was in grade 12, and I was dating Joanna at the time. In a way it wasn’t that long ago, in a way it’s ages.

I have no recollection of writing it, but I still agree with the sentiment – and Jim is still white.

“People who use live journals, or bloggie thingies, or whatever, as vehicles to verbally slam people they know should be slapped. I mean, I could come on here and write about how Jim is the whitest guy on earth, but would it be satisfying? No. It would be way more fun to knock on his door and say it to his face. At least he’d be able to slap me with that powder-white hand of his. Kapow!”

It’s not a tumor! *said with Arnold voice*

I waited at a clinic for 2 hours last week waiting to get it checked out, but ended up having to take off because I had class… but I have this weird lump on the small of my back. It’s probably nothing… it’s not growing, it doesn’t hurt… it’s just not going away. It’s likely a ganglean, or calcium buildup or something lame like that. But it still worries me a little bit, and I mean to check it out when I have a block of time to commit to a doctor’s waiting room.

The peak of the randomness of yesterday, though, was zac and jess drawing a face on the lump and speech bubbles.

I have so much work and deadlines this week that I just wrote out a schedule down to the hour from now until next tuesday. Sleep and eating are regimented, where I can fit them in. I’m hating school a little bit right now

An interesting living opportunity has presented itself for next year that I’m going to probe a little bit this and next week. It could be interesting. Some major plusses and minuses, but certainly worth some thought.

-Scott