What's this? An actual update? I have become used to a certain routine ("Rut") here at LiveJournal. It goes something like this: I get all in a tizzy about something, and slowly a long-winded dissertation begins to form in my head until I feel that I have enough content to write it down here. Rarely do I use this medium to talk about my life, which I assume is the purpose of this site. Instead, I use it to write down my opinions ("Half-baked nonsense") and thoughts ("Lunatic ravings") and use it as a sounding board to see what other people think. Today, however, the formula shall change a bit as I actually use LJ for that purpose for which it was ostensibly designed. I shall talk about my life. I do not expect that this shall become the norm, so I do not suggest that you become accustomed to this. It is an anomaly.

On the subject of personal appearance, this is what I look like now. That picture was taken while I was tuning the violin, which is probably why I look serious. The sound it was producing was probably frightful. Anyways, the hair. It's getting really long, and I haven't cut it for three reasons. One, the guys I work with threw out a half-joking challenge to not cut it until all our computer migrations are done, to which I half-jokingly said "Okay". Two, haircuts cost money, which I am trying to save. Third, I'm curious as to how far I can let my hair go before it drives me so nutty that I have to go cut it. It's already starting to bother me at the end of the day, when it starts to get frizzy and tickle the backs of my ears. But I kind of like the different look...I've kept it short for a long time.

On the subject of the violin I'm holding in that picture - As I said before I was tuning it at the time...my first lesson is this Saturday at Nashville Violins. I've wanted to learn for a while now - piano is nice and all, but I'm kind of in a rut musically with it. My left hand always plays the same bass clef "fluff" for music that I'm playing by ear, and I want to try something different. I've been messing around with the guitar that Grandma Williamson gave me before I left, and I can play a few chords on it. No plans for lessons on that as of yet, but we'll see. My immediate goal for the violin is to be able to play the intro to "The Lark Ascending", which you can hear on the last track of "A Collision" (Crowder) as he's reciting the poem that it's based on. (Or you can hear it here.) My long-term goals involve playing bluegrass. (Interesting side note, for those who don't know, a violin and a fiddle are the same instrument. How it's played determines, generally, what it the instrument is referred to as.) I also got a nearby church to agree to let me use their classrooms to practice in, which is good, because the walls in my apartment are about as good at blocking sound as a bedsheet might be.

And now, music You Should Be Listening To:

- Where Fear and Faith Collide, Michael Olson

Good album, in particular the song "God is With Us".

- All of the Above, Hillsong United

"Point of Difference" is a real highlight of this album. Great energy and lyrics, but the album slowly gets more worshipful as it goes on, until it reaches a great climax in the song "You". Brooke Fraser (Who also sings "Lead Me to the Cross" on this album) is an incredible vocalist who brings a great sound to this song. I love it. I hope to do it in a worship service someday at the right time.

- Remedy, David Crowder Band

Crowder is a great worship leader, but he departs from that slightly here in order to keep his music fresh. (Or something like that, I think.) It works, but some of this music might be hard to use in a worship gathering setting. But that's okay, because it's so well done. Especially nice is the new version of "Rain Down" which older Crowder-ites might remember from "All I Can Say". I'd love to hear an acoustic version of "Cry Mercy" from that album.

- It Won't Be Soon Before Long, Maroon 5

Starts out strong, but the energy kind of feels forced after the first few songs. Good mixing, and vocals that cut.

Anyways, that's it. A real, live, update. Also, I'm making my own bread. It tastes super.

Exit, stage left. Sparks