Current mood:	blank
Current music:	Mahler X Rattle

Strange thoughts...
I think it's interesting to note that when I'm making music, my physical pains and illnesses disappear for that brief moment. I can cough endlessly for 24 hours, but when I sit down and launch into a Beethoven sonata, somehow the coughing stops immediately until the piece is over. I've always known this about myself, but the more I read about others musicians, I find this to be the case for almost everyone.  And as you might have guessed it, I find this to be quite fascinating...

In the past one year or so I've seriously wondered about what I would have done if I had not gone into music. No, I'm not saying I'm actually thinking about changing my field... though, the truth is I never actually "decided" at any point that I'm going to become a professional musician. It just happened very naturally over many years. I never had to "think" about what I wanted to do... but obviously that wasn't an issue because I was never dissatisfied with studying music, nor am I now. Nonetheless, I find this questioning process to be rather entertaining and perhaps even necessary. It all began when I got heavily into reading Carl Sagan and studying about the universe. I don't have the greatest background in physics, but I think I would have gone full throttle into it--failure or not--had it not been for music.

Another fascination I have is with sharks. I think it would have become boring after awhile, but I would still love to tag along on a boat ride with a scientist to help gather data, even if it means jumping in the water. I have a rather unhealthy obsession with building my own shark cage... I've been watching this show on Animal Planet all day today... called "Whale Wars".  This reality show follows a group called the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which is  a 3-vessel fleet that ventures out into the sea to protect ocean animals.  Well, I'm totally up for joining their cause. Their organization and leadership is whack. But I think that is something I can help bring to the table. They have the drive, resources and the bodies... it's unfortunate because I find a number of their crew to be completely incompetent. Some of them are borderline pirate wannabes who really should not even be on the ship. I love the ocean, and being outdoors interacting with mother nature is as orgasmic to my brain as listening to a Mahler symphony. Once I finish my graduate degrees and complete the immigration process, I think I would strongly consider joining them, even if it's for just a couple of months.

http://www.seashepherd.org