April 27, 2008
The Drum Chronicles
In honor of this recent development, we present a musicological look at Tim's history as a drummer. Drum roll, please.
Tim: It all started with KISS.
It was 1976 or 1977, the Steelers won their second Super Bowl, Star Wars came out, and KISS had just released “Destroyer.” What a time to be eight or nine years old!!! My friends and I had a brilliant idea – let’s put on a KISS show for the neighborhood kids. I was going to be Peter Criss.
I had drum sticks, I knew all the songs by heart, and I was planning on doing two solos-a drum solo and then lip-synch to “Beth.” I was so excited that I made the mistake of telling my mom about it. Her response crushed me: “You can’t wear make-up. You’re probably allergic to it.” So I was demoted to “Business Manager” as you can see in the photo caption. How humiliating!! My fledgling career as a rock drummer was in grave danger.
We next move on to high school. I played bass drum and quads in marching band and we won several awards at competitions! I was “Business Manager” no more!
Now we come to my college days at Indiana Univ. of Pa. where I rocked and rolled all night and studied every day. I was in a punk band called “Split Pea” (we were also called “Cabbage Carnage”). We played a few parties in people’s basements and one gig at the student union.
I haven’t played in many years now but I do have a son and daughter who both like to make a lot of noise. Rock on!!!!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 09:04 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
April 26, 2008
A red letter day
Or should I say a red-and-black letter day?
Hats off to Tim as he embarks on a new adventure!! He is officially accepted into the Master of Arts program in musicology at UGA.
Welcome to the wonderful and wacky world of musicologists!!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 03:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 05, 2008
GRE
Tim: Yesterday I took the GRE (which, I believe, stands for Grief. Repulsion. Exasperation.) What an ordeal that was. I spent almost two months preparing for it - working through two books with sample questions, studying vocabulary flashcards, doing sample questions online, etc... The first section was analytical writing and I think I did really well on that. Next came the math and I guessed at many of the questions. The verbal section was next and it was difficult because my brain was fried from the math. Starting last year the GRE has included an extra section to test new types of questions. I was hoping it would be another verbal section. It wasn't. 45 more minutes of freaking math questions! There I was guessing at more answers. Well, it turns out that I scored a 610 on the verbal and a 600 on the math, both of which are decent scores. I though I did a lot worse. The Lord was merciful. I'm just glad it's over with!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 09:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 22, 2008
Daddy's beard is fuzzy...
Posted by Tim and Jo at 09:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 13, 2008
Happy bday from twins & daddy
So....I got my first birthday present from the twins. They picked it out. Really. Look how exhausted they are from shopping.
Their daddy has been busy. He planned out a whole week of birthday surprises. More importantly, he kept these surprises secret, which is quite unusual for him. He's usually too transparent for subterfuge.
On Saturday, my childhood best friend and my cousin Melissa made a surprise appearance. Jennifer brought me candy in quantities of 30 each (I had forgotten how fun pixie sticks were!), and Melissa brought me a purse full of fun Bath & Bodyworks stuff, as well as anti-aging cremes (haha). Elanor stole the purse.
On Monday, another pile of friends came to visit! Ruth made me a chocolate and apricot birthday cake--we share the same middle name and the same birthday.
Elanor found a new friend in Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn was part of the baby countdown last fall. Unfortunately, Elanor said something that Kaitlyn didn't like, and Kaitlyn burst into tears. However, it appears as though they patched it up in the end. I hope they have as much laughter over the years as I've had with her mother and all her wonderful aunts and uncles.
Apparently there are more surprises on the way, so I'll just have to wait...
Posted by Tim and Jo at 04:59 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
January 19, 2008
mystery present update
Well, Tim found his present, so now I can say what it is:
24 magical beers from all around the world!
Tim said he felt like Ponce de Leon when he opened it, as if he had found the fountain of eternal youth. He certainly needs that fountain after last week's big event, hehehe.
He also feels like Amelie: "Only the opener of Tutenkamen's tomb would know how she [or in this case, he!] felt.”
Anyway, thanks to the anonymous gift giver, and we would love to thank you if only you would reveal yourself...
Posted by Tim and Jo at 03:09 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 18, 2008
A mystery present...
So...someone sent Tim a birthday present through FedEx, but it didn't come with a note in it.
He hasn't seen it yet, so I'll have to be vague about the details. But it came in two packages, with multiple items in each package. Also, it came from someone who knows Tim quite well, as far as what he loves. I had to sign for the package because of the contents.
Anyone in the blogosphere know about this?
C'est mysterieuse!!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 07:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 10, 2008
Two score and zero years ago...
...a great man was brought forth upon this earth.
Yup. It's the big one!
Happy birthday, Tim!!!!!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 10:42 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 09, 2008
All Hail the Teaching Company!
Tim: Come all ye who wanted to take that class in college on philosophy or history or literature but never got a chance to.
Come all ye who want to take a college course without having to pass a test or write papers or spend money for books.
Come all ye who want to learn from Ivy League professors without having to pay thousands of dollars.
Come all ye who want to take a course while driving to work or jogging or doing the dishes.
I'm one of the easiest people on earth to shop for at Christmastime or for my birthday. My wife's brain is already hardwired to ask me this question: so which Teaching Company course do you want this time? After three years of marriage she has succumbed to my obsession and has joined the ranks as a TC fan. Right now we're working through three courses - Classics of Russian Literature, A History of European Art and Victorian Britain. I have almost 30 courses now, some of which I've been through three times.
The booty from this holiday season included: Elements of Jazz (from Joanna's parents), The Life and Writings of John Milton, James Joyce's Ulysses (from Joanna to me) and The English Novel (from me to Joanna). Don't be alarmed at the prices. They put every course on sale at least once a year so most of the courses are less than $150 and many are less than $80.
Get ready…get set…learn!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 06:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 08, 2007
Won't he make a great dad?
Posted by Tim and Jo at 11:54 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack