Classical Storm

Listening: Rostropovich Bach Cello Suite No.1 Prelude

So, nothing really of consequence to note today, Halo: Reach came out, and it wasn't nearly as busy as I had thought it was going to be. I suppose all of the REALLY big nerds went out and got it at the midnight launch. Go figure. The only downside to this is that because of the move I do not have the budget to buy said game and enjoy destroying "n00bs" with Dan and Simran. Go figure. Ah well, eventually. I'm getting more and more excited about the move as it draws nearer. Also, I'm getting nervous about the transfer to the West Edmonton store. i'm not amazing with computers, but I am willing to learn and I feel that it's a nice controlled environment to start with my education. What I'm most concerned about is if there is a skills test before being allowed to transfer, and that I may not pass it. While I am computer literate, I'm not 100% confident with my skills diagnosing and fixing the multitude of problems that are possible with computers. I'm going to see if my dearest dad can help me out with a few crash courses on it, as well as asking the Geeks at work for some pointers/tips. That is, however, the biggest worry that I have at the moment, and should I not get into Geek Squad, which is what I would LOVE to do, there is always a senior position in the Home Theater department which I would rock. There is also a Supervisory position for the same department, however it was made clear to me that I would require to work my way up the ranks before being offered said position.

Another cool thing that I've recently started doing again, is listening to more and more classical music. I find that it really calms me and helps clear my mind, while being something that will continue to raise goosebumps on my skin. Most recently are Bachs Cello suites, specifically Suite no.1 and Suite no. 4. Brilliant music, on a brilliantly played instrument. I can and have been listening to them repeatedly during the day, and do not think I shall grow tired of them. The prelude on Suite no. 4 is actually one of my favourite pieces of music, however Suite no.1 is so well transcribed and such a wonderful flowing harmony that I would question the sanity of any person who does not enjoy it. The feel and emotion playing through the notes on Rostropovich's rendition is amazing and while many would consider him to be playing it too quickly, I do believe that it was originally transcribed at that tempo. Another beautiful rendition of Suite no.1 is by Pablo (or Pau) Casals. There was a wonderful video upload onto youtube of Mr. Casals playing the full suite in a French church in 1954. A solitary figure in a church hall, filmed in black and white, and playing a beautiful arrangement of music made the hair on the back of my neck stand up and brought chills down my arms. It truly made me wish that I had the talent and the drive to learn how to play the cello, if only to play that one piece of music.
Going back to my move to Edmonton, however, I still have a ridiculous amount of things left to accomplish on my list, and not a large amount of time in which to complete said tasks. There was a very nice surprise to this move, which was brought to my attention via parental explanation. Turns out that whilst paying rent to my parents to live in the basement, they would take a portion of that rent and put it into a savings account/setting/something and are returning that fraction to me to help with my moving. This was a very welcome surprise, and gives me a little bit of padding to my "well maybe if I..." budget. My mum was surprised when she found out how well I had planned and managed to figure out the move and all of my financing for it, if a little upset that I was leaving soon. Sunday night is going to be a joint Happy Birthday dinner for Mini and a Farewell dinner for yours truly. Mini will enjoy the fact that I'm leaving for the reason that he gets to commandeer my room, but I think that's one of the few positive points he'll see. The other being that he'll get a TV in his room. I really should learn some new transition words, and try to implement them, as I find that I use "However" a fair amount in my writing.
Sleep really should be a priority at the moment, however I have messed up my sleeping patterns a large amount and am wired from about the current time (2:15 AM) until about 7:00 AM, where I crash and need to sleep sometime around 5:00 or 6:00 PM. Needs to be fixed, especially before I return to Edmonton. Another thing I should fix is the length of my blahg posts. It is impressive that I am able to write so much these days and not feel overly self-conscious about it, and even more impressive (to me at least) that I will actually post them on ze intrawebs, even if they're really only read by my lovely girlfriend.
Ah well, a new chapter in my life is about to start, and I should assume that there will be many changes being associated with that. It will be very nice to be able to see Rachel on a regular basis, and not have to have skype-dates and the such. Perhaps we'll actually go out on dates too! Who knows, we'll be as cliche and as offbeat as we like and I am definitely looking forward to it. Another lovely thing about this will be I get to see Adam again. I miss that German bastard like crazy. It's been FAR too long since we've had a decent night doing anything we damn well please, and I miss his straightforward approach to life. It's a nice shiny beacon in my adrift world of "well, I suppose that I would enjoy this...." life. The scrubs marathons, the impromptu dance parties chez Rachel with all of our friends, Wings, screaming at the Oilers for their dismay demonstrations of hockey and rejoicing in their triumphs. It will be nice to be back where I feel I'm much more at ease and where I feel like I belong. Even though I grew up here, I don't feel that same connection with the people or with my friends as much or as well as I do with those I met in University. I will miss being in the Vancouver area, and I will definitely return for visits and trips to the cabin, but I feel I am becoming an Albertan true and through. We'll see how well that works out, though, as Rachel wants to move to Montreal in a few years. Maybe I'll fall in love with that city as well, but Edmonton will forever be a place that I will call home, -60 degrees celcius can not scare me away! It's just an obstacle on your way to Sev to grab a slushie.
Beam me up Scotty, I'm ready for redeployment.
Craig