Forced to go to New Jersey: Future Doctor Mitch, Forever Unclean! Episode 13

So, I was on my way home this evening and had to drive past Eagles Stadium.  I knew there was a home game and was anticipating a little traffic, but I was unprepared for just how awful the city of Philadelphia handles the exodus of their fans from the stadium.  Essentially, they block off all exits from I-95 so you cannot enter the city anywhere near the stadium and only allow people to leave the area.  Well, that's great for getting all those Eagles fans home, but what about those of us whose homes are in the shadow of the stadium?  How are we supposed to get home?  Well, I found an exit that would get me there, so I took it.  I have taken this exit before and it drops me off pretty close to my house: score!  Next to the exit was a sign that said, "this way to New Jersey."  It did not say, "New Jersey Only."  However, the split of the for that led to Philadelphia was blocked off and all traffic was funneled over the bridge into New Jersey.  By that time, it was too late.  I had no other choice than to enter New Jersey.

And to make matters worse, there is no toll to cross the bridge into New Jersey.  That trip is free.  But, if you want to leave New Jersey and enter Philly, you have to pay $5.00!

Anyway, I suppose I should talk about my week at school.  On Wednesday, I played my final Wind Symphony concert of the season.  A few weeks ago, I talked about my distaste for the repertoire for this concert.  Well, Wednesday, as I left the dress rehearsal, I found myself humming the music.  Somehow, in the rehearsal process, I had come to enjoy the music.  And to be quite honest, I had a blast performing it on Wednesday night.  It was a wonderful reminder for me to always keep an open mind when faced with something new.  After all, one of the reasons I decided to return to school was to work with people who would challenge my perspectives and force me to see music, teaching, and the world in a different light.  Performing this music, though unpleasant at first, did exactly that and I am grateful to the Wind Symphony director for putting me in a situation which forced me to become comfortable with unfamiliar music.  I have, for a long time, been an advocate for "classical" music and everything that has come to fall under the wide umbrella of that term.  I often tell people that if they give classical music a shot, they just might enjoy what they experience.  This Wind Symphony concert was a reality check for me, reminding me that I must practice what I preach because, I just might come to enjoy new experiences.

A couple weeks ago, I posted my Psychology of Music Learning and Behavior paper on the factors influencing children's instrument choice for you all to read (and, I am sure you all read it.  Seriously, if you haven't, go back and read it.)  There is a student in one of the brass methods classes that I teach who is a master's degree student, so he has already taken the psychology class.  He told me that this paper causes many people to fail the class.  The professor, according to him, grades the papers with an incredibly scrutinizing eye.  Well, I got my grade back on the paper.  You know what has two thumbs got a perfect score on the paper?

This Guy!

(I had to take that picture with my toe so I could give two thumbs up.  That is much harder that you would think)

Check out how awesome I am:

 

There wasn't much else of note that happened this week.  Things are kind of wrapping up for the semester.  I am still working on my chapter summary of the creativity book.  I am hoping to have that ready for you all next week.  Keep your fingers crossed!

Also, Ravens victory today.  Bam!

Some of you have not been getting the subtle and sometimes not so subtle jokes and references in the titles of each of my posts.  So, in case you didn't get this one, it is a quote from the TV show, The League.

Until next week,
Future Doctor Mitch, out!