Falling Into a New Scene

It's been way too long since I've last updated my blog. So much has changed. I've finally got my bachelor of music in instrumental music education with teacher certification (graduated this past May). I'm now working on a graduate degree (master of arts) in music history. Still at Wayne State University though (so that hasn't changed).

I'm currently working on research about troubadour music. It's unbelievably fascinating yet incredibly difficult to find research about but I am determined to write about it (so take that universe!). I'm also taking a 'Schenkerian Analysis' class (whatever that is, I just know it's music theory...). So far I've been struggling in that class but I am mostly confident that I will be ok.

And, through observation over the past couple of months, I have figured out my "medical mystery": I am gluten-intolerant and I may possibly even have celiac disease. This makes perfect sense since I am allergic to oats and was told to stay away from wheat as a child. As of about 2 months ago, I have been slowly eliminating gluten from my diet and since I've been doing that, I've felt so much better. It's unbelievable that I was feeling so much pain for so long. I also learned over the summer that I have cysts which is another reason why I'd been feeling abdominal pain.

Overall, even though graduate school is enormously stressful and I've forgotten the definitions of "free time" and "social life", I am happy, or at least a lot happier than I have ever felt in a very, very long time, or maybe happier than I have felt in my entire life... 

I currently don't have any other musings to share presently. Hopefully I will remember to update more and share any random things that come to mind.

Little Left to the Imagination

I'm just gonna get down to my point. I don't like that living in the Information Age/21st century means that we all have to be connected to each other all day. Specifically, digitally connected to each other. I'm not saying that I hate everyone and that I wish to isolate myself and never be seen from or heard of again. But, now that a lot of us have (or have access to) computers and have cell phones, etc. there's no breathing time, no break. 20 years ago, someone not answering a text within 5 minutes wasn't something to get mad or angry about, because it didn't exist. And those people of the pre-Information Age got along fine and are still quite social and able to function in society. What about the 20-somethings and younger? Why are we so anxious and dependent on technology as a way to communicate and socialize?
I would also like to say that I don't entirely abhor technology. I am just bothered that I am expected to be an active participant within its world and that whenever I am not it seems to be an issue.
Centuries ago, people would take a carriage ride or walk to see each other; they might even stay a few nights, and then be on their merry way back home. They would write letters to each other, maybe once a week or every couple of weeks. There was none of this 'I have to tell you what I'm doing and when every few minutes and if I don't hear back from you then something must be wrong' mess. I am probably in the minority here but I don't like being attached to my phone and computer like crazy glue, constantly texting, calling, instant messaging people. It's just too much. There's no privacy, no time to relax and wind down from the business of the day, because people feel the need to 'nag' at each other 24/7 to talk about everything all of the time. I need time to read, study, practice my music, write, eat, sleep, breathe, etc. without having to update everyone about it.
In conclusion, I believe that we as a society have become too dependent and addicted to technology and information being at our finger tips. We have lost the idea of fantasy, wonder, secrecy, and privacy. There is little left to the imagination.

Slow Me Down

Rushing and racing and running in circles
Moving so fast I'm forgetting my purpose
Blur of the traffic is sending me spinning
Getting nowhere

My head and my heart are colliding chaotic
Pace of the world I just wish I could stop it
Try to appear like I've got it together
I'm falling apart

Save me
Somebody take my hand and lead me
Slow me down
Don't let love pass me by
Just show me how
Cause I'm ready to fall

Slow me down
Don't let me live a lie
Before my life flies by
I need you to slow me down

Sometimes I fear that I might disappear
In the blur of fast forward I falter again
Forgetting to breathe
I need to sleep
I'm getting nowhere

All that I've missed I see in the reflection
Pass me while I wasn't paying attention
Tired of rushing, racing and running
I'm falling apart

Tell me
Oh won't you take my hand and lead me
Slow me down
Don't let love pass me by
Just show me how
Cause I'm ready to fall

Slow me down
Don't let me live a lie
Before my life flies by
I need you to slow me down

Just show me
I need you to slow me down
Slow me down
Slow me down

The noise of the world is getting me caught up
Chasing the clock and I wish I could stop it
Just need to breathe
Somebody please
Slow me down.

-Emmy Rossum