The Adventures of Justin

urjustintime @ 2006-11-10T00:06:00

2006-11-10T08:06:41Z

So...I realized I hadn't updated this thing in a long time, but I'm starting to crack under the stress of having so much stuff to do and being sick this week. I know it's really late notice, but the opera at UW has started its run. If anyone still wants to come, the remaining shows are on Friday the 10th at 7:30 and Sunday the 12th at 3:00. It plays at Meany Theater at the UW.

urjustintime @ 2006-10-19T18:52:00

2006-10-20T01:59:51Z

*sigh*

I have sooo much schoolwork.
Just gotta keep on chuggin'....

I bought a recorder! I need it for my teaching music to kids class. I haven't played one of those since I was in the fifth grade. It's a nice stress reliever. I can just pull it out whenever and figure out a song on it.

My voice is getting fatigued from so many opera rehearsals.

I really wanna watch Star Wars...ALL OF THEM!

19 CREDITS!!!!

2006-09-28T01:19:16Z

Somehow I ended up with 19 CREDITS this quarter!!!! The good news is I got into music history classes, so I can start getting those out of the way. I have 15 credits of stuff I need to do, and 4 "fun" credits. Normally I would have to pay a big fee to take that 19th credit, but apparently I can get one of them waived. My "fun" classes include the opera, opera workshop, and chamber singers.

As long as I can still do really well in my classes, this will be fine. The problem is I don't know how much work I'm going to have on a regular basis yet. Opera workshop is only going to be 2-3 hours a week and there's no homework, so that's good. The opera will be over by early November, so that will free up a lot of my evenings and Saturdays about halfway through the quarter when things start getting hard. So hopefully this will all work out.

Opera workshop looks like it's going to be really fun. This quarter, it's basically an acting class. With all the theater I've been in, I've never actually had an acting class. So this looks like it's going to be a lot of fun!

urjustintime @ 2006-09-25T22:31:00

2006-09-26T05:47:07Z

*sigh* So I didn't end up getting to the UCU retreat at all... this Footloose show is really holding me down. (hehe...get it?)

I'm having huge problems figuring out what to do with my schedule. Right now I've got 12 credits. I'm doing the opera, so that'll bump it up to 14. I need to do an ensemble, and I really want to take Chamber Singers and Opera Workshop, but doing BOTH of those might be a good way to kill all of my homework time. I'll probably have to choose one, but which to pick? Being a music education major, I should focus on choir and take Chamber Singers. But everyone in the opera is telling me I really need to do Opera Workshop, and I have to take it this quarter in order to take it in the winter or spring. Maybe doing both is an option though, I don't know.

I'm looking at 17 or 18 credits here, which I guess is pretty average for me, but it's a lot of classes, since nothing is over 3 credits.

I'm supposed to be off-book for the opera by Thursday...riiiiight...

The only cool things I did today were I had Indian food for lunch and fixed the DVD player and XBOX 360 here at the house. (the picture quality is sooooooo much better now.)

week in review

2006-09-22T02:36:34Z

This week has been totally nuts for me.

Monday - Spent the day with Charles Platten at CKJH. This was a great experience, to see a "day in the life" and try to think about if I could see myself doing that. I found out Charles and I are a lot alike, especially in that we both love performing, we both started out as vocal majors and we both switched to music education majors.

Tuesday - Spent the day with Cassie Gillis at BHS. I loved spending the day with Ms. Gillis, but I realized that I already know how she runs her class. The only thing I really learned was that running high school choir is way harder and requires way more time that junior high.

Wednesday - This was one of my most evil days ever. First, while I was eating breakfast I got something in my eye. It hurt like heck and I tried for half an hour to get it out, with no luck. so I went to the eye doctor and got really queasy because of all the stuff he was doing to my eye (I could NEVER be a doctor, I would die), and he couldn't find anything in there! For a few weeks, my mom has been bugging me, saying I need a haircut. So I went and got one, and then I realized that the hair I already had looked really good. It looked so much better before. Why do I just do whatever my mom says? Then, after a couple of hours the thing in my eye finally came out on its own. Then I had to pack all day so I could move over to Seattle the next day, but I had trouble because I was grieving the loss of my hair. Then I had worship practice at church for a really long time because I am going to be leading on Sunday! I think it went really well, but boy was it stressful.

Thursday - Got up early, packed up the van with Mindy's and my stuff, went down to the ferry and they were full. So we drove all the way to Bainbridge while I had bags sitting in my lap. Got all my stuff moved in, then Mindy and I went to the Paramount and saw Wicked! (So awesome)

Whew. Thank goodness I can do normal, unstressful stuff this weekend, like do the show three more times!

Footloose!

2006-09-22T02:05:12Z

Footloose opened last weekend, and it was totally amazing. I've never seen 2nd and 3rd night audiences so big. This one is definitely going to be selling out a lot. Any of you who haven't seen it yet need to get your tickets ASAP and COME! (Friday and Saturday at 8PM, Sunday at 6PM, at the CSTOCK theater, get tickets at the Kitsap Mall)

urjustintime @ 2006-09-11T00:00:00

2006-09-11T07:24:00Z

This week is HELL WEEK for Footloose. I dunno if I can take another week of rehearsals every night. I would rather just skip it and do the show. If we're lucky, though, Greg will let us have Wednesday off and then I can go to the UCU BBQ!

My cousin Jon came over Friday night and stayed most of Saturday. We always have a pretty good time. We played a bunch of video games, watched the good parts of UHF and some Strong Bad emails, and my dad gave us a guitar lesson and I tried in vain to play some Beatle songs.

I really enjoy playing Age of Empires III over our LAN with my dad. We played last night, and he really stomped on me, so we played again today and this time I cleaned his clock. If anyone reading this plays, we need to have a LAN party before I leave for school!

I just now realized I was supposed to schedule an appointment with my Music Education major professor ASAP after I was accepted to the program, which was three months ago. Great. Way to get a good start in my new major.

Long Beach!

2006-09-06T06:13:53Z

So last weekend the whole Beal side of my family all went to Long Beach (Washington) and had a pretty awesome time. Highlights included Grandma's food, family games, soccer, Grandma's cookies, kite flying, helping build a hippo sand sculpture (well, not very much, but I did help some), and watching countless episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond.

I love my family. We always have a good time together, no matter what we're doing. Us cousins have some sort of special bond; we just love each other to pieces.

Footloose news: Everything is going well except for the gas station scene. It's just really awkward and I don't know what to do most of the time. I still wish they'd reinstate the reprises of Somebody's Eyes, but it's far too close to opening to even consider making such a change.

Other news: I borrowed In the Groove from Adam, so now I have a reason to get back into arrow smashing.

What are the chances?

2006-08-29T16:41:41Z

So, today I decided I really needed to get my devotional life going again. I pulled out My Utmost for His Highest out of our bookshelf, turned to today's date, and was shocked to find the entire page covered in black crayon. Brenda had a phase a few years ago where she would take random books from our shelf and color in them with crayon. What are the chances that the ONE page in the book that she chose to color in was the one for today's date?

So now I wonder, is God trying to tell me something with this? Is he saying that I shouldn't start my devotionals today? Ha ha, I doubt it. He's probably laughing, saying, "See what happens when you put off starting your devotions?" I have to agree, that's a pretty good one.

urjustintime @ 2006-08-28T00:23:00

2006-08-28T07:35:04Z

Church was good. My cousins Lori & Koby visited with their youth group from Vancouver, so it was fun to see them.

I laid around the house for two hours watching this show about Krakatoa because it was too hot to want to get up and do anything.

Finished learning the choreography for "The Girl Gets Around." We removed a lot of the awkward parts, and it looks so much better now.

My mom's going in to work tomorrow, which means I have respite duties all day for Brenda. That girl has been going crazy lately. I think she's bugged because we finally hid all her videos so she won't stem on them.

They cancelled my favorite show!

2006-08-26T06:43:25Z

The SciFi Channel has decided that this year will be the last year of Stargate SG-1. They are not ordering an 11th season.

I know all of you just died of shock reading that, and there's no point for me to go on, but I'm gonna write more about it anyway.

So, I actually don't know whether to be sad that it's done or be happy that they had a great 10-year run. Most people are ready for the show to end, as several of the main characters left the show a few seasons ago and were replaced by different characters, and the show has a new direction. I really like the new direction, though. It keeps the show fresh and it made me wonder if it could last for a really long time, changing when needed to get new ideas going. Looks like that won't be the case.

Thankfully, the show's executive producer says the show will go on in some way, either moving to a new network or becoming a miniseries, tv movie or theatrical movie (!!!)

And of course, the spinoff series Stargate Atlantis has been renewed and will continue to be a great show.

Footloose!

2006-08-24T23:40:23Z

So, this fall I am once again on the CSTOCK stage, this time in Footloose! I play the part of Chuck Cranston, a biker/high school dropout/drug dealer/tough guy. That's really a stretch for me. Up until now, the part I've played that was least like myself was Curly in Oklahoma! That was tough because I had to be cool and smooth, two things I obviously am not, but I was able to pull it off! The character of Chuck really is the complete opposite of me physically, morally, and socially. What worries me most is that I have to be intimidating, and I am such a weakling!

As much as the part is not like myself, I love a challenge. I've gotten a lot of encouragement from the director and several actors, who say I'm doing well. The only problem I have right now is I'm not really comfortable with the part yet. That's just going to take some time. I'm hoping the character will really come out once I get in the costume.

The show plays September 15 through October 8!

song testimony

2006-08-21T03:26:26Z

For the past few weeks everyone in worship team at church has been giving a song testimony, meaning one person picks a song and tells the congregation what it means to them, and this week it was my turn. I found this to be the perfect opportunity to do what I've been waiting for all summer: introduce an RUF song at church. I chose "On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand," because that's always been one of my favorites. Teaching it to the team was easy. The hard part was figuring out what to say about it. At first, I wanted to tie the meaning of the song in with how I got involved in RUF. I started writing it last night, but it proved to be way too long and it was hard to grasp the connection. So after thinking about that for at least an hour I ended up with something far simpler that took about five minutes to write:

"For the past two years, I have been involved in Reformed University Fellowship at the University of Washington. Most of their songs are old hymns that have been set to new music. Because of this I have discovered the richness of many of the old hymn texts. One of my favorites is “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand,” which shows how the story of the Israelites being led to Canaan is a metaphor for our journey as Christians. As the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt, we are all held in bondage by sin. And just as the Israelites were led out of bondage to Canaan, we have been freed of our bondage by Jesus’ sacrifice, and will one day go to the true promised land."

And for those of you who don't know it, here's the text of the song:

On Jordan's stormy banks I stand, and cast a wishful eye
To Canaan's fair and happy land, where my possessions lie
All o'er those wide extended plains shines one eternal day
There God the Son forever reigns, and scatters night away

I am bound, I am bound, I am bound for promised land

No chilling winds nor poisonous breath can reach that healthful shore
Sickness, sorrow, pain and death are felt and feared no more

I am bound...

When shall I reach that happy place, and be forever blessed?
When shall I see my Father's face, and in His bosom rest?

I am bound...

-Samuel Stennett

I'm baaaaaaaaaack!

2006-08-20T05:25:42Z

After over a year of deciding I was done with LJ, I am resurrecting the journal. *Cue fireworks* Let's see if I can actually post on a regular basis.

Les Misérables!

2005-06-20T17:54:58Z

I am officially a keyboard player for Les Misérables! I am "Keyboard 3," which means I am pretty much the whole string section. I have a lot of music to learn now, and I also have to learn what this show is actually about. I have only listened to Act I so far, that's more than enough to work on right now.

Listening to the music does make me really wish I was in this show. Playing keyboard will have to do, though. Hopefully I'll get the chance to have a part in this show at some time in the future.

urjustintime @ 2005-06-06T23:02:00

2005-06-07T06:31:22Z

Okay, I owe everyone a post.

Right now, I'm freaking out because of FINAL EXAMS!!! I have an accounting exam tomorrow that I don't think I'm quite ready for, then a programming final on Wednesday, which I haven't studied for yet AT ALL.

I think I'm going to drop all this college stuff and just become a full-time authority on Star Wars, because I realize I'm extremely talented at that. With the release of Episode III, several of my friends have been continually asking me about how the whole saga ties together and why certain characters did what they did, and I always have the answers. Seriously, I can talk about the intricacies of Star Wars for hours. My favorite discussion topic is the central theme of Star Wars, which is: A man with good intentions becomes evil and then is redeemed by his children.

urjustintime @ 2005-05-15T23:13:00

2005-05-16T06:39:59Z

Voice recital. Tomorrow. I'm gonna die.

I saw the opera here at UW, and it was totally awesome. Well, it was actually a light opera, titled Orpheus in the Underworld. It was really really funny and they found cool ways to modernize the story. The story is set in the realm of Greek mythology (but with Roman names), and the main idea is Jupiter and Pluto are trying to win the affections of Eurydice, while her husband Orpheus, who doesn't love her and could care less, goes to rescue her under the pressure of Public Opinion (who is actually a character in the show). Probably the best scene is when Jupiter seduces Eurydice while disguised as a fly.

The O.C. is still awesome.
Goodnight.

For some reason, the letters "O" and "C" start making me drool....

2005-05-09T04:58:44Z

Well, I watched FOUR episodes of The O.C. today. That is so sad. I feel like I have all these new friends and I have to know what happens to them next or I'll go crazy! I really really really want to watch another one right now, but I really need to practice my song for voice recital which is in ONE WEEK!!!!!!!! I really can't take any of those to school or I wouldn't be able to get anything done.

I really need to focus on studying. I feel like I'm only studying if I know there's a test or quiz coming up, and I really just need to do it on a regular basis. I also need to be more active in my microeconomics class, since I believe a lot of the grade is based on participation. Maybe I have more participation than I think I do. I'm at least coming to every class, but I think I should say something while I'm there. But....I'm going to miss at least one class because I have a choir concert, and I'd like to miss another one to go see the Chamber Singers. That's like missing a whole week of some other class since econ class is only two days a week. Yikes. Why did I ever sign up for a night class?

Oh, I saw The Mystery of Edwin Drood at CSTOCK and it was totally awesome! You get to boo and hiss at the villain and get to vote on how the show ends! We voted the brother and sister to be the lovers, it was very hilarious. The only problem is that they're getting little tiny audiences, which means you (the person reading this) should go see it next weekend, because it's the last weekend.

Choir tour is in two weeks!! It's gonna be awesome!!

urjustintime @ 2005-05-03T23:19:00

2005-05-04T06:41:24Z

Well, I had my microeconomics midterm today. I did mostly well, but I realized I did something wrong after it was over. Oh well, I guess mostly good is fine.

I am really leaning towards majoring in music. I talked to a music adviser and she said that music degrees actually look great for a number of jobs because it proves you have good time management and can work well in a team.

I dunno...gotta think more about the whole major thing.

crap. I'm addicted to another tv show.

2005-05-01T04:42:39Z

Well, I did it. I watched the first two episodes of The O.C., and now I am probably going to be hopelessly addicted to this show as well. It really is brilliant. I love the themes of compassion, the duo of opposites Ryan and Seth, and the choice of music used for the show. I'm going to have to try hard to study for my econ midterm tomorrow, as my dad, who is also addicted, will surely watch the next few episodes and I will end up watching as well.

I have a voice recital in two weeks! AUUUUGH!!!

urjustintime @ 2005-04-21T18:14:00

2005-04-22T01:34:45Z

For some reason, I'm really annoyed with school this week. I just want to go home and not have to worry about anything. Or maybe I just want to keep playing Final Fantasy IX....

My allergies hit me really hard this morning. Maybe that's contributing to my overall irritation.

My roommates and I had a discussion about whether the Matrix sequels were good or bad movies. During this, I remembered how cool the Matrix trilogy is, and now I want to watch it again soon.

Temptation.......

2005-04-13T06:21:27Z

So I finally have cool roommates who talk to me and like some of the same stuff as I do. This is a great thing, but the problem is they brought their playstation and several RPG's that are attempting to lure me away from my studies. I now have Final Fantasy VII, VIII, IX, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Dragon Warrior VII at my disposal. Drooooooool..... I'm afraid that after I go home this weekend I might bring back my memory card, and then my grades will go straight down the tube.

New episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise start this week! Yay!

I wrote a song!

2005-04-05T04:57:21Z

I did it! I wrote a song! Well, kind of. I took one of my dad's old songs, "Peter Do You Love Me" and wrote new music to it. The song was very '70s sounding, because that's when it was written, so I updated it for the '00s. It ended up sounding very Elton John-ish, actually. There are a few spots that are awkward and need a little work, but mostly I'm very proud of it.

I found 2 Unlimited's "Get Ready" CD at the Pawn X-Change for $1.00! Yay for dance music!

urjustintime @ 2005-02-20T22:46:00

2005-02-21T07:01:19Z

Hello, thought I'd give the lj an update.

A week ago, I found out I had an infected lymph gland and an infected tonsil. I started taking an antibiotic, the tonsil got better in a couple days and the lump on my lymph gland is almost gone, but yesterday I had an allergic reaction to the medicine and broke out in little red spots all over. I have now stopped taking the antibiotic, which only had a couple days to go. The infection should be pretty much gone already, but it it comes back, I'll have to get another prescription that I'm not allergic to.

Voice recital in: 1 week
will be singing: Thou Shalt Break Them (from Handel's Messiah)

I can't go to Fiddler on the Roof!! All sold out!! AAAAAAAAAAUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!

Cool Bible fact

2005-02-02T02:07:46Z

I found out a really cool thing about the Bible today. The Bible has 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament, and 27 in the New Testament. This makes Matthew, the start of the New Testament, the 40th book. The Old Testament book of Isaiah has 66 chapters. The 40th chapter is where the book changes gears and prophesies the Messiah's coming, which is what the New Testament is about! Either it's a crazy coincidence, or it's evidence that our Bible is indeed the way God wants it to be.