It's Chilly Outside!

I'm so glad that its becoming more winterlike here in Alabama. Who knows, we might get some snow this year...I doubt it, but it would be nice.

So today was cool. This morning after opening up the Foundation, I got the opportunity to speak at UAB Day for the Department of Music. Ms. Reynolds had asked me if I could do this since the person who normally does this is gone with the band to Memphis and I graciously accepted. It wasn't anything extremely formal, although I met the Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities and he introduced me along with Ms. Reynolds and Dr. Price to the incoming Freshmen and their parents. After all the A&H departments splited up, the Music Department people went upstairs from the Hulsey Recital Hall and Ms. Reynolds gave her spiel about being a music major at UAB. I thought she did a fantastic job at that. She then allowed me to introduce myself and share about being a music major at UAB and how and why I chose to come to UAB. I did speak good things about our outstanding ensembles (with special emphasis on the Choir and other vocal ensembles...just so you know Dr. Copeland...) and I spoke well about our outstanding Music Education program of which I am a part of.

So now, after all of that, I'm back here at Lakeshore for about another hour until we close for the day. Tonight I am going home to spend the night with the dog and I'll be back in town tomorrow.
Ok, so here's some sad news. Tomorrow, I am officially turning in my two weeks notice to Starbucks. Although I have loved working there for the past four months, I am being called back (again) to Family Christian Stores (our Gardendale store is moving to Fultondale and I'll be a Sales Floor Leader [Shift Supervisor] there...Christmastime is VERY VERY busy in retail after all...). I'll miss all of my good friends I've made while at Starbucks...not to mention all the coffee and what not...sadness, no more markouts... But don't worry, I'll go back to being a patron there again. It is one of my favorite places to go and read or just chillax for a while.

On a lighter note, it's 37 days till Christmas, my favorite time of year! I'm already listening to Christmas music in anticipation for the holidays. I recently purchased Josh Groban's new Christmas album, Noel and it is somewhat amazing. One new song I discovered on his album is a French Christmas carol called "Petit Papa Noel" and I have recently fell in love with it and I purchased the sheet music for it and maybe I can sing it next Christmas for Juries.


Another great Christmas album I purchased was David Phelps' One Wintry Night. IT IS AMAZING! He is my favorite singer, and you can never go wrong in one of his albums. I mean, wow! It is so great and I invite everyone to go get it. Trust me, you won't regret it. In fact, Amber and I might be singing the song "One King" at her church sometime in December.


UGH!! Speaking of juries, they are two weeks from today. I've still got to get my last song completely memorized. Here's a rundown of the songs I'm doing for juries this semester:

"Sebben, crudele" – Antonio Caldara (1670-1736)
"Standchen" – Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
"Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast" – Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900)
"Bring Him Home" - Claude-Michel Schönberg (b. 1944)

So yesterday, I went to the Birmingham Public Library and checked out a few cds from them. One was Jussi Bjorling, and I don't regret checking out his cd. He has a great tenor voice. It's very silvery and brassy. Dr. Kris recommended I listen to him since both he and I are lyric tenors.

Well, I'm about to have to close up shop here at Lakeshore. Geez, it's been nearly an hour since I began to type this blog entry. I've had to pause and resolve problems and what not. So I hope this will do for now. Maybe I'll update this again later tonight or something...probably not, so don't count on it... :-p

Brian