So. Cory fixed everything this week. And by everything I mean he (1) installed Arch Linux and set up X and GNOME and wireless and sound and stuff, and he also (2) re-installed XP on my system, which was more of fixing the brokenness than “the plan”, but I think it turned out to be A Good Thing. I’ve actually been using Arch much, much more than I have XP. This surprises me (hence the “actually”). But it’s so awesome and fantabulous and customizeable, I can’t help myself. Witness the beauty:

Yes, my computer is named Omega Fierce, or rather, (omega)mega F13rce (apparently). Don’t make fun. I get my ridiculous moments.

Other News,

I finished two books over break. The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Díaz, was not quite as entertaining as most of the books I read (Jonathan Safran Foer, for example), but it was definitely, well, interesting. Thought-provoking without preaching. I’m not sure if I liked it. Sometimes I like the preaching, as silly as that sounds. But maybe that’s just my laziness.

Tangent: It seems that, the more I learn, the more naive I understand myself to be. The first step in learning is understanding one’s ignorance? Or something? Hmm… (End Tangent.)

The second book was Me Talk Pretty One Day, by David Sedaris. It was funny in parts. But, well, in other parts it was cringeable. Especially when he talks about things he hates, because a lot of the things he hates, I’m especially fond of. I’ve realized I probably wouldn’t like David Sedaris as a person. We probably wouldn’t be best friends, he and I.

Oh! Have you heard of Joby Talbot? He’s composed for a few movies and things. I bought his album The Dying Swan and it’s rather good. Not Nico Muhly good, of course, but good. Pleasant. John Adams or Ludovico Einaudi pleasant.

And to completely ruin the idea that I could possibly have good taste in music, I also bought Grandes Éxitos, which is a compilation of Shakira’s Spanish hits. Yeah. Uh-huh. Suck it.

Um. What else. I got a desk for my apartment. I’ll be getting a chair and a lamp and a toaster soon. Exciting, I know. I have no idea why you’re still reading this.

Honestly, the reason I haven’t posted in a while is because I haven’t really had a good reason to. I’m emotionally fairly stable. (Huhwhat?) And while I’m not sure exactly what happened to the crazy, manic depressive Black you’ve all come to know and love, it’s entirely possible that he may not come back for a while. So, forgive me if I don’t offer any new brilliant/insane insights into our minds and souls. Or if I even post much.

*shrug* Busylifeness.

Out of the Loop, Orchestra 15′

A Good Understanding, SATB, trebles, percussion organ

Time After Time, Soprano saxophone, marimba, percussion, 10′

Seeing is Believing, solo electric six-string violin and chamber orchestra

Full program info for each piece can be found at www.nicomuhly.com (look under Projects).