Well, it’s been a while. I pretty much gave up on blogging because I realized nobody cares about the food I eat or make. But there’s been a ton going on and I wanted to update about it because, well, that’s what a blog is for.
So I just finished up my finals yesterday! Unfortunately, the last two weeks have been pretty miserable. I took six classes and piano lessons last semester and they took a toll. Fortunately I spent enough time studying that I am going to get decent grades in all my classes. However, this has meant very little time pursuing hobbies or spending time with Kristina.
Next semester, I have no time to dick around.
Unlike this semester, next semester I’m only taking five classes and piano lessons. However, the workload of these classes may outdo this semester. CSE 305 and 308 (Databases and Software engineering) both revolve around semester-long projects. CSE 307 (Principles of Programming Languages) has very long, difficult homeworks and Physics II is a nightmare I’m told. CSE 333 (User-Interface Design) is the only break. According the RateMyProfessors, the guy is pretty lenient and the material is easy. My number one priority will be to stay completely on top of everything as soon as it’s assigned. This should result in more free time in the end (hopefully).
I did have some fun. Last Saturday I went to my friend’s birthday party at The Garden at Studio Square. The place is huge and very welcoming and relaxing. It’s a bit expensive for food and drink, but it was worth it for the atmosphere.
I would guess that there were over 300 people inside – maybe 400 at its busiest. There were big TVs and even a Jumbotron that they showed the Yankees v. Mets game on. At about 2am, we ducked out and headed to a local pizzeria that was still open for some empanadas. It was nice catching up with people who I haven’t seen in a while, and meeting some new people. I’ll definitely head back here at some point, maybe when Kristina turns 21 :-)
Speaking of Kristina, she got another Restaurant.com gift-card for blogging! I’m happy for her that she’s found success in just talking about her interests, and it works out for me too because we get to eat delicious food for cheap :-)
We decided to go to a Sports bar for a change called Momo’s Sports Bar and Grill about fifteen minutes away from us. Here is a picture from her blog of my Buffalo Chicken Fajitas.
I’ve also been listening to much more Classical music lately. I enjoy all music, but I can’t deny my roots. In particular, I have been reminded as to how much I love Brahms. The other day I uploaded a movement from one of his Piano Trios. I don’t think many people care, but if you could listen to the first three minutes, I think you’d really enjoy them.
I also need to pick some new piano pieces of my own to work on this summer. I may do some Liszt for the first time, and I definitely want to play something French. However, I’ve selected one piece I’ll definitely be working on. It’s Mendelssohn’s “Variations Serieuses”. I was not familiar with this piece until my teacher recommended it, but I think it’s quite pretty and technically impressive.
(This is part one. Click part two if you are interested).
Lastly, I start work tomorrow again. Last summer I interned at BAE Systems in Burlington, MA, and they asked me back! I’ll be programming all summer which is very exciting. The only issue is I don’t have too many nice clothes, and my only pair of jeans left ripped in the crotch area. Old Navy jeans always seem to have that problem with me, plus they are very unflattering. I went to TJ Maxx and picked up some Calvin Klein Jeans and a nice black shirt for just $25 each.
Both are very comfortable. The jeans are a little more form-fitting than Old Navy’s “Oh, you have a 36 waist? You must be obese. Here, have these jeans that are as loose as humanly possible without being called a dress on your calves and thighs so that you can manage to pull them up, fatty” jeans.
I also bought some undershirts and underwear with goldfish on them. By the way, when did men’s underwear become so expensive? $15 for two pairs?! Outrageous. Women’s underwear is expensive to, but there are always great sales like 5 for 15.
Anyway, that’s all. Thanks for reading if you bothered.
1) Those are not goldfish – they are CLOWNFISH. Like the ones from Finding Nemo, remember? :D Can’t wait to see them IRL. Btw, I think there are 4 in that package, not 2?
2) The jeans and shirt are nice. I’ve never seen you in a casual, collared polo shirt before! :o And the fact that they’re Calvin Klein for only $25 each is a pretty good deal. :)
3) Please blog more regularly. I sincerely enjoy your posts.
4) I miss you. D;
1. Oh, my apologies. I am not a marine biologist so you’ll have to forgive me ;-) Nope, it’s two pairs. On one of the pairs, the boxer part is the fish pattern, and on the other pair it’s the waistband. Plus it says “2 WOVEN BOXERS” on the front :D
2. I have never worn a collared polo before, but there’s this guy at work who always does and I think it looks pretty good so I’m giving it a try. It’s super comfortable :-)
3. I will try. I have a feeling you and I are the only ones who will read this, and I bet you didn’t even read everything ;-) But blogging will motivate me to use my camera, which is why I bought it.
4. I miss you too!
I read this too! And if you want reasonably priced underwear go with Hanes… normally they sell them in 3 or 5 packs. You can normally get a women’s 5 pack for $8 when they’re having a sale, I can only assume they also have good deals for the men’s
I’d also advise you to go for something by Chopin…. if all of his stuff wasn’t so hard XD
I don’t even think I saw Hanes on the rack at TJ Maxx, but I will definitely look next time I need underwear (whenever that may be – you can’t predict these things).
As for Chopin, you’d be surprised at how not difficult most of his music is. Sure, it sounds fast and a few years ago I never thought I’d be able to play it, but pianistically it fits the hand very well and progresses very logically. This tends to be true for all composer-virtuoso-pianists. They knew what was hard, so they usually strove to to make it easier on the pianist. There are exceptions, of course. Beethoven was a great pianist, but wrote music that is extremely difficult for the performer both in mental and physical endurance. But he was a dick ;-)
THAT BEING SAID, I’ve played/dabbled in quite a bit of Chopin. Plus a lot of his stuff is very mainstream. If I do play something by him, I am going to go with something long that isn’t played as much as the Fantasie-Impromptu (ugh). I’m thinking about his 3rd Ballade, or maybe his Fantasie in F-minor (that one really IS difficult).
I’ll keep you posted ;-)