A Few of my friends

Hello, all!  I have been getting some questions about who all I am spending time with here, and so I thought I would give a little update on that as well as a couple recent experiences of mine.

First, my weekend.  I was given the opportunity, which I happily accepted, to go on a retreat with InterVarsity to a cabin about an hour away from here.  We were pretty much in the middle of nowhere, with miles upon miles of state park all around us outside of the cabin property, so we were able to spread out a lot whenever we had a quiet time.  Over the course of the time we were there, we did a lot of worship (both modern and hymns, which are my favorite) and Bible reading.  I read through Matthew 5-7 as well as the book of Job, which I had not read before.  It was very intense, but I loved the wording throughout the entire book.  It felt like reading poetry, and I loved it.  We had a brief Bible study on the Beatitudes, and we had a couple of the leaders come and give personal testimonies.  I had a great time.  It was nice to get off campus for a while.  

As far as everything else goes, there is not too much new in my life.  I was unable to catch even the slightest glimpse of the moon last night due to rain and clouds, so that is a a bummer.  The composite guitar team has started meeting, and I am really looking forward to doing work with them!  I cannot remember if I addressed this in a previous email, but it turned from being a CAMP team to being a senior design team.  I was very persistent, though, and was able to get myself in as well.  I doubt I will be able to help too much as far as the actual design goes, but I hope to learn a lot through the process, paying special attention to how the vibration analysis is done.  I feel like if I can get that down, I could possibly start working in part on my own toward designing a composite violin, which is a huge goal for me.  I am pretty sure they are going to try to do the analysis through Solidworks, which is a program I have access to as well, so I really hope that works out.  And that pretty much sums up what I have been up to, other than my normal classes, in which not too much new has transpired.  Still working up Vivaldi’s 5th Cello sonata on my bass right now, and loving it.  

So, now onto my friends.  I can’t say too much about any of them, because I have not had time to spend with any of them in depth, other than perhaps Brooke.

Adam- He lives on the same floor as me, and is just a very nice guy.  He is about my height, has black hair, wears glasses, and is in my Intro to Mechanical Engineering class.  We have sat together at lunch a few times, and it seems like we have shared quite a few experiences, including being musicians.

Ezra- Adam’s roommate, and an extraordinary character.  He is very, very tall and wears glasses.  He was elected to student senate a couple weeks ago.  He plays trumpet better than anyone I have ever heard in my life.  The first time I heard him play, I was practicing in the music building as well, and I just sat my bass on the floor and listened to him for several minutes before I worked myself up to picking my instrument up again.  He also is an amazing piano player.  I walked in on him playing Chopin’s Fantasie Impromptu (by memory, of course) a week back.  He was also impressed by my musicianship in playing bass (though knowing what he is basing that judgment on, I find it difficult to see why) and even asked me to help him with fingerings on a piece he was playing…on the piano.  I was actually able to figure out a fingering he had not thought of that he has used since then, but that is beyond the point.  We have talked a lot about music, and eaten together whenever we had the opportunity.  I have also seen Ezra around InterVarsity sometimes and he goes to the Newman Center service.

Alex- I met Alex through Ezra, as they were both running for student senate.  Alex also plays piano and trumpet, but his primary instrument is his voice.  He has an excellent singing voice and awesome range.  I was able to spend quite a bit of time with him over this last weekend at the retreat, and I think I have made a lasting friendship with him.  He is a bit of a goof, but can be serious when he needs to be, or when he is singing.  Also attends the Newman Center.

Cole- Lives two floors below me.  I met him because he was interested in the composite guitar project as well.  He plays guitar, and I gave him a bass lesson at one point as well, because he expressed interest.  He is a bass singer in the choir and also attends InterVarsity and the Newman Center.

Sam and Sam- Two guys from my floor who share no attributes except their names.  One is tall, frequently seen working out in the hallway, and has a rough voice but is really, really relaxed all the time.  He kind of has a sleepy look on his face, and uses his eyebrows in all of his expressions. The other is a short and heavyset firecracker of a human being.  He gets really worked up about pretty much anything that ever happens and voices it quite loudly to whoever is nearby.  His voice is one of very few sounds that can pierce my nearly sound-proof door.  I don’t know either Sam too well, but I definitely say “Hi” when I can and we know each other by name.  Short Sam also is going to be in the drama club this year, so I will see him every Saturday at Improv Night, which I attend despite not being in the play itself this year.

Catherine and Hannah and Mindy- I met Catherine and Hannah on one of my first days here.  They both play violin in the orchestra and attend the Newman Center.  Hannah was also on the retreat these last couple days.  I have also seen them at swing dance before.  I don’t know too much about them as people, but they have very bright personalities.  Hannah is very outgoing while Catherine seems more introverted.  Mindy is another roommate.  She was at the retreat as well, but I don’t really know her too much, as our schedules don’t line up much.

Brooke- I have been able to go swing dancing with Brooke a few times now, and have really enjoyed my time with her.  For those of you familiar with Bridgette Heiner, Brooke seems to be very similar to her in mannerisms and voice.  She is really involved with robotics, and has been through high school as well.  She is from instate, and so she knows a lot of people around campus from her old school.  She is also in my Intro to ME class, but likes to sit further back so I don’t really see her, as I am always in the front couple rows.  We have meals with each other at least a couple times a week.  Brooke is the only person other than Ezra that I spend time with on any sort of regular basis.  And I only see Ezra because we practice our instruments at the same time, so there is not too much interaction going on there usually.

And now onto a different group of friends: The drama club and “The Cult.”

Jake- Tough guy character.  Kinda crazy.  Very funny, but quite crude.  Has an infectious laugh, and is an excellent addition to improv night.  I don’t think I have too good of a read on him yet, but I have only seen him a couple times so far.  Looks very, very strong.

Brainy- Always wears a silly tiger hat that pretty much sums up her entire personality. Mouse in a cat suit.

Jon- From Woodland Park.  Tall and skinny, plays video games competitively.  Known him since I was in 5th grade.  Enjoys doing accents and sarcasm.

Sam- From Woodland Park.  Tall and skinny, plays video games competitively.  Known him since I was in 5th grade.  Enjoys doing accents and sarcasm.  Drama club is pretty much his life.  Also in choir.

Thomas- From Woodland Park.  Didn’t know him until I arrived here.  Very down-to-earth compared to the other drama club members.  RA.

Conner- From Woodland Park.  Didn’t know him until I arrived here.  I don’t have too good of a grasp on him yet.  He has a very recognizable voice that seems to come a lot through his nose.

Andrew- Roommate of Jon and Sam.  Other than him being in drama club, I know very little about him.

Maddy- Totally, totally awesome.  She knows hundreds and hundreds of people here on campus.  Not just by name, but actually knows them.  Very kind.  I am starting to believe she has some sort of spy network on campus based on how much she knows about everyone.  She is the mom of the drama club and the leader of every activity in which she takes part.  Very sweet.  Seems to have inside jokes going with literally every single person on campus.  She is amazing.  Crazy, but amazing.  Also, I think she (or her family??) might have recently moved to Woodland Park, so she has even more connections to that group.   “The Cult”- A name given by Maddy to the growing friend group from Woodland Park.  Composed of Connor, Jon, Sam, Thomas, and me, with Maddy as the true leader though not part of the original group.  There are enough shared experiences between all of us that it is apparently pretty obvious even from an outside perspective that we knew each other before coming here.  I personally only knew Jon and Sam, but I was filled in quickly enough.  Jon, Sam, Thomas, and I have dinner together every night, often joined by Maddy and Andrew and Jake.  We have each agreed on family roles to take on to complete the cult aspect of it, and though we never, never actually refer to each other by them, it is pretty entertaining when it is referenced (rare).  I have only been briefed on this once, so I may get some of the roles off, but what I think it is is Jon and Sam are the parents, Thomas is the grandfather, I am the eccentric bookworm uncle (a title I take on proudly) and Maddy is the crazy Aunt.  I don’t know who Connor is off the top of my head.  I hope this is obvious, but I will say anyway that this is in no way reminiscent of an actual cult…yeah…mostly it is just a way that Maddy uses to refer to us all, and nobody in his right mind is going to contradict her on any matter like this.  On an idea that might actually have real implications and consequences?  Sure.  On a figurative social structure?  No way.  She will fight you to the death.  And she will win.

So, there you go!  That is pretty much all of the people I know on campus who are coming off the top of my head!  There are a few more from InterVarsity that I know as well, but haven’t really spent too much time with outside of the Catalyst meetings every week.  I hope this gives you some sort of a picture of my friend base.  I will keep in touch!