Sunday, November 12, 2006

I am a confusing old man

Well, I'm not old yet, but I sure do act like I am. In my eternal search to find out what really appeals to me I have found that I like some of the following things:
1. Flat caps (remember newsies?)
2. Mr. Rogers type cardigans (I wish I could raid my grandfather's closet)
3. The Marx Brothers
4. "My Fair Lady" and other well made musical/movies
5. Enjoying classical music and discouraging music with high decibel levels
And I don't like:
1. Driving at night (my night vision is horrible)
2. People who speed and tailgate (5 over is enough for me)
3. watching sports on television
4. Eating dinner past 6:00 or Lunch past 12:00 ( I should be done by those times)
5. Staying up late; I go to bed at 10:30 (mainly because of student teaching but it is nice)

So there it is. To add to that Dr. Vacco has said I would make a great Grandpa and my friend Doug remind me at least once a week that I am an old man . To be honest, I actually like thinking along the same lines as the older generation. They are pretty smart people and have great style. Though most people don't agree, whenever I see an old man wearing what old men wear (especially the hats) I can't help but admire his style. Well, I suppose I'll find out if anyone agrees with me in the future. Until then I'll keep adding to my collection of old man apparel and other old man items and eccentricities.

Friday, November 03, 2006

A true friend

Here's a few traits I think a true friend might have:

1. spends time with you
2. never insults you (unless it is in joking way)
3. knows things about you besides the surfacy stuff everyone else knows (i.e. I play the Bass)
4. cares about how you are doing (doesn't just say "how's it going" without expecting a real response)
5. Goes to the things you are involved in wether they like it or not.

This last point is the one that really rings true for me lately. None of my roomates came to the big jazz concert tonight. None of my other friends came either unless they were in jazz band or a music major, in which case it fulfills a requirement. I was dissapointed to see that each and every one of them were reluctant to go wether they had a prior engagement or not. I know I don't always go to my friend's events but mainly becuase they don't go to mine. A relationship like this must be give a take. It can't all be one sided.
For instance, I regularly visit my friends and former roomates down the hall. Whenever I come they don't seem pleased to see me and never spend time with me even though I have extended my friendship to them. I simply have to fit into their already scheduled plans (or non-plans) or else I may leave. Also, they have only come to me a couple to times and only when they are the most bored.
I fear that I will leave Bethel with no life long friendships. That really scares me.

Back to the concert.

At the end of a concert people always gather in the lobby to talk etc. It is very rare that I will see a friend to say hello to or chat with after a concert. Today was more of the same. And to top it off I tried to give eye contact to some friends I recognized to say hello but they didn't even wave. I once again walked off and wnt home without talking with a single friend. Sure my bandmates say "great job" afterwards but that is almost required ettiquette and its nice to hear it from a non-musician. It really hurts to see that my enitre list of "friends" can't be bothered to attend an event of something I hold very dear to my heart.

I didn't even get invited to the after concert "party"