Jumping for Joy(ce)

Yes, as the title suggests, I'm starting a journey where I will be reading a lot of James Joyce. So I picked up Finnegans Wake the other day, and then promptly put it down. After recently finishing House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski, I feel as though I need to read something with a somewhat coherent narrative. I have my thoughts on House of Leaves, but I lack the energy to talk about it right now. I recommend it...if you have lots (and I mean lots) of time on your hands, and if you don't mind doing minor calisthenics while reading.

The last few posts I made on here were during the winter when I was going through a major rough patch. After spending months of trying to get back on my feet (and being knocked back down again and again), I have finally graduated with a Masters Degree from Boston University...and I owe a lot of people who were there for me when things got really bad...but I don't really have the will or energy to talk about that right now either. I do have some other exciting news that I would love to talk about: This September, I will be starting as an adjunct clarinet teacher at Southern New Hampshire University. This is a huge, huge, huge opportunity, especially for a recently graduated musician. I have no words to express how thankful and lucky I am. :-)

So I'm just going to do a little recap of some awesome things that have happened, since I haven't been on here for a while, and then figure out the fate of this blog.

One of my best friends wrote his first musical:

Celebrating the premier of Where's My Cape at Devlin's Pub

I hung out with rockstars:

Robert Sarzo of Queensryche 

Had a very tame St. Patricks Day:

On break at Brownstone

Saw my favorite band do an unplugged set for one of my best friends on his birthday:

Most of the band: Bent Knee

 Performed the Berlioz Requiem in Symphony Hall:

 Premiered a children's opera:

Premiere of The Luminous Moon

Spent time with one of my best friends who was in town for a few days:

Yes, that is toilet paper. 

 Graduated Boston University:

The day I cleaned out my locker. Short people always get the tallest lockers. 

Started a 1500 piece puzzle...still working on it:

A lot more progress has been made since...but still. 

Sat the cats. Still sitting the cats.

Muffy & Silver

My mom threw me a kickass graduation party...and my best Boston friends came!

Saw the American Band play at Faneuil Hall:

Went to a wedding reception in this building:

Went to a lovely restaurant for my grandmothers 94th birthday:

Finn's Harborside in East Greenwich, RI

Then after, went on a boat ride:

This:

<3 

Started and finished House of Leaves:

Spent a week at Bethany Beach in Delaware:

Our place for a week...Sam and I lived upstairs in the loft.

Frequented the boardwalk

Played tennis

Ate so much crab

Went kayaking

Played mini golf

Went parasailing 

Got dunked

Spent hours on the beach

That was fun...even though there isn't enough time to include everything.

So about the blog situation, this is what's going to happen. I'm keeping the blog...for now. Instead of updating each month about something new I've been wanting to try, I'm just going to chill out. I'm going to read a lot of books, cook lots of food, work out, stay busy, hang with friends, and see some shows. I'm going to paint my nails, watch lots of movies, take myself out to dinner, keep my room clean, and focus on myself. These are all things I didn't have time for as I was finishing up my degree...and now that I'm done and have a great job to look forward to, I am going to have an actual summer vacation (you know, and work the more-than-occasional restaurant shift).

As of right now, if you're looking for some sort of challenge...I'm going to read a lot of James Joyce in the order listed below:

1. Dubliners (1914)
2. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916)
3. Ulysses (1922)
4. Finnegans Wake (1939)

Sprinkle some poems on top, and that's my main summer goal. Join me?

Thanks for reading! I'll be better at updating, I promise.