Temples of Syrinx be Damned

It’s almost time for me to go back to school! I feel like this summer has gone by pretty fast, but at the same time, the second half of May feels like eons ago. That's a hyperbole. La.

Anyway, I’m stoked for my sophomore year and my awesome roomies-to-be and the classes I’m taking and the ensembles I’m going to be in. I know how to do the college thing now, and I’m ready to hit the ground running. Woo.

I had an epiphany today. Here’s some background for it:

In October, I will be an employee of my local school district for two years. The only legitimate, official-paycheck-receiving job I’ve ever had has been custodial work. I’ve mentioned before that this bothers me not in the least, because I enjoy the atmosphere and the myriad interesting people I have met and befriended, a more colorful bunch than the wide range of chemicals we use. I’ve learned from the job itself and from those I work with both about myself in relation to the world, and how to improve that standing. I get a lot of satisfaction from working with my hands, and I would rather dance in the loading dock while hosing down blinds than sit in a cubicle any day.

But I have learned that no job is perfect, and no matter where your employment hails from, you must deal with insufferable co-workers or customers, chaotic administration, and the pressure to meet the haphazard standards of your various superiors. This summer has been stressful for me for many of the above listed reasons, but most days I like the think the pros outweigh the cons.

That all being said, sometimes the only thing getting me through the day is the knowledge that this gig is only a step on my long-term employment journey. I’m going to school to be a professional musician, after all. Just keep going, I tell myself, you won’t be stuck cleaning (fill in the blank) forever.

But as the summer has gone on, I began to realize that I really wouldn’t mind any kind of job, from a dish washer to a pizza delivery girl, as long as at the end of the day, I got to go home to someone I loved, and who loved me. Nothing is ever as bad as it could be if you know what you’ve got waiting for you at home.

I’m going to school with the ultimate goal of using my musical talents (and biblical and religious knowledge) in some form of ministry, whether by joining a church as their worship leader, or playing on a team that tours youth conferences, or whatever God tells me to do with my life. Ideally, this would be a full-time job and career path for me, but today (this is the epiphany, so pay attention)

I decided that I really don’t care what kind of job I have. Right now, I am so blessed to be able to go to a school with a phenomenal music program and professors who are totally committed to helping me learn and grow in my calling. There is no doubt in my mind the next three years will hold untold experience for me, and I will graduate equipped to be the best musician possible. I also firmly believe that God has placed this calling on my life, and he has given me the talents I have for the purpose of serving him and furthering his kingdom.

And that’s enough. As long as I serve in some musical, ministering capacity, I could be driving a garbage truck full time for all I care. When I’m older I know I will have all sorts of monetary responsibilities, and I will make sure there are all met and taken care of. 

To quote Rush, “Listen to my music/ And hear what it can do/ There’s something here as strong as life/ I know that it will reach you” (2112, IV: Presentation).

My passions don’t have to pay my bills. So long as the bill-paying never gets in the way of my passion.

Let's Tango

14 DAYS TIL SPACE DRACULA'S BASKETBALL EXPO AHHHHH YAYYYY WHOOOO.

...I still need to acquire moon boots. And a cape. >.> But have no fear! Squandering much time and money on nonsensical accessories is the new name of the game.

Also. Check out my sweet beard. I think I'll be Abe Lincoln for Halloween.

I just finished the second week of my summer job (I'm a custodian. It's just as sexy as it sounds) and that's been pretty fantastic. I'm thoroughly convinced one of my co-workers is a robot (or at least a cyborg) and if that isn't exciting enough I've cleaned numerous offices and learned how to operate heavy machinery! Huzzah!

My job is always interesting because we have such an eclectic mix of people on our crew that the melting pot of opinions on everything from religion to today's youth is almost always bubbling over. It's provided an interesting perspective for me because I am the youngest employee by at least 20 years, and rubbing elbows with parents and cancer survivors and even the select few with massive chips on their shoulders has taught me a lot already. And it's made me hope sincerely that cynicism is in no way contagious.


BUT THIS POST WILL PREDOMINANTLY BE ABOUT TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON.


It took two viewings for me to form my highly professional opinion, but Transformers 3 is nothing short of an epic. Senseless robot violence always goes down smooth, and with Michael Bay at the helm, could you expect anything less than the best?


Well, you shouldn't.


Anyway. I have been blown away by every chapter of the Transformers saga, and this installment was no different. Each new movie has taken on a bigger plot with bigger crises, bigger battles, and so much more at stake. The bad guys are badder, the weapons are bigger, and more things blow up. 

Michael Bay has a knack for combining the science fiction-y fantastical with raw human emotion and behavior. He makes the far-fetched concept of cybernetic lifeforms bringing their planet to ours seem believable, because he meshes it seamlessly with identifiable, sometimes ugly, sometimes heroic, humanity. The Autobots and the humans have a lot to learn from each other, and in DOTM parallels are drawn between what it means to be a human, and what it means to be an alien, what it means to be a hero or a villain, and most importantly, what it means to be free to do what is right. 

The star-studded supporting cast was also a pleasant surprise. McDreamy goes evil, and Watt is resurrected as a German secretary...bitch. (See Patrick Dempsey and Alan Tudyk)

That being said, this is not my favorite Transformers film. I think sometimes the humor in these movies is a little too overplayed, and it felt like the movie had more integral cast members than it knew what to do with. Beloved characters like Agent Simmons and Soundwave (personal preference here) didn't get nearly as much screen time as I would have liked. Laserbeak makes his debut, though, and I loved the way he was portrayed as a total douchenheimer. Bumblebee is at his most badass, and I did enjoy the way Autobots like Ironhide (*sniff*) and Sideswipe got more fighting sequences. Optimus had a tendency to behave like a little bitch during the first part of the movie, but he more than made up for it during the final battle.


Without giving too much away, much of the film's opening sequence deals with the moon landing. I really liked the way actual footage from that historic accomplishment was combined with actors. No better way to end a review than with a lame observation.


SO THAT'S NOT HOW IT ENDS. Here's the kicker - the end-all reason I geeked for almost the entire movie. Leonard Nimoy is the voice actor for Sentinel Prime.

WHAAAAAAAT.

 

 

 

That's like the happiest marriage of things I nerd about at an unhealthy level. 


SO. If you haven't seen it, change that. Now. 


Thanks for sticking it out to the end of another drawn out, over indulgent blog condoning robot-on-robot violence and the important lessons they learn about love. You're scrumptious.