So hey ya’ll. How’s everyone doing? Whenever I ask how people are doing, I seem to get responses such as: “Eh- I’m getting sick,” or “I’m tired.” So everyone take those vitamins and try to get some sleep. Ah I sound like my ma, but she’s totally right. I could really use some more Zzz’s. I know, I know, it’s easier said than done right? Yes, well I’m in the same boat as all you sleep deprived and sickly kids. However, hopefully this little viral “bug” will be stepped on soon and we’ll all be able to enjoy this lovely autumn season!

Anyway…

I know I just posted and ever’thaaang, but I wanted to give you an inside view of one of my classes. This is my class, Voice 1, with Professor Stephen Kitsakos where we meet every Tuesday and Friday from 12:15 until 1:30. I recorded bits and pieces of our class on Tuesday, September 16^th. On this particular date, we were each given one of our solo songs, which we will be working on all semester to achieve specific goals such as audibility, dynamic variety, clarity, resonance, etc.

So in this particular video, Shana Circe and her husband edited it (I cannot take the credit.) They did a really nice job! They incorporated background music when we weren’t singing, and has the page “flip” as a nice transition from one image to the next. However, I wish they edited me out when I’m singing in the end…buuuut I will not complain, since it’s beautifully done and all. OHand Professor Kitsakos told us to sing with a southern accent for fun, and mine came out…well…not southern… Oh dear. Amy Smith, the girl I was singing with in the center of the circle, now SHE had a southern accent. Not I!

OK enjoy! See how much fun we all have in Voice 1! Click the video below!

See Voice 1 for yourselves, on YouTube!

Talk to ya soon, I gather.

Yo, Check-It, today was the Fire Safety Bonanza I was telling Y’all about and it was AWESOME!  It was really a good time overall, and for those of you who went and supported your halls: Good Job!  And for those of you who didn’t wake up until 2pm: oh well, maybe next year.  There was food, free pamphlets, keyring toys, and activities.  The activities were really the best part because they were a real eye opener to even me, a real fire safety buff (or at least now I am…)

Next to the R.H.S.A. table there was the R.A.D. program table.  At this table, there were Officers Kelsey and Coxe who played the victim (who knew how to beat the snot out of an attacker) and the attacker, respectfully.  Very cool.

The first activity was the “Rescue Drag.”  This entailed some poor soul (Me) thinking they could drag an -approximately- 165 lb. dummy fifty feet and back.  FIFTY FEET!  Lets just say, that the dummy and I were lucky that Capt. Scott Schulte was there to help me with the last forty five feet (give or take my dignity…)

After that there was the “Let’s-all-crawl-into-the-smokey-room,” dealio and that was scary -no lie.  There were five of us, and one Fire Fighter, and he briefed us about feeling the door, staying low, and crawling TEN feet to the exit door.  Scary…  As soon as I got in, I was like Dane Cook in the War Flute bit! LOLOL  First of all, lets just talk about this phenomenon of memory loss that happens when you open the door:  I forgot to crawl.  Then, I was blinded by -no, not the light (thank you, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band) but by the incessant smoke, no matter that we were on the floor.  Oh, did I mention that I went first?

Now, this next one, was probably the least realistic, but regardless, it was a good experience.  I participated in the Fire Extinguisher training session.  There was a Fire Fighter that operated a propane flame source from a “trash can” and I used the Water Pressure Extinguisher and the P.A.S.S. technique: Pull the pin; Aim; Squeeze the lever, Sweep the extinguisher back and forth at the base of the flame.  Very Savvy…

Now here’s the BIG ONE -Oh My GOSH!  At 2pm they lit a mock college room on fire -legit: no propane, dynamite, gasoline, charcoal, aerosol cans, candles, steak dinners, what-have-you.  Just the room and the flames.  This was one of the most scary and impressive things that I’ve ever seen -and I know what you’re thinking: “Hey Matt, you sure do get scared a lot, huh?”  Nay.  No I do not; but this inferno was something to be seen.  And for the late sleepers of the group, I’ve got a snazzy-do video you can chickety-check out.  Now, this was an event that I wasn’t going to miss, so I planted myself some forty feet away and setup the cam.  As soon as they lit this thing up, i could smell smoke, and as soon as the smoke accumulated there was fire -from there it was over: the picture fell ,the computer monitor EXPLODED and the tapestry created a curtain of flame.  Even me being forty feet away I could feel the heat, and it was deceiving how real it was, because at first, I thought it was the sun, or me just getting all worked up, but when I checked in with the peeps next to me, they confirmed that it was real flame broiled hotness.

Overall, I was super glad that I went, schmoosed, took pictures and video, and had a blast.

Oh, and I have recently discovered “No Air,” by Jordin Sparks (recently? I know, right? what, do I live under a rock? ).  And in case some Dane Cook fans are wondering, I am seeing My Best Friends Girl tonight!

PEACE!

Matt

P.S.  There will be NO audio on the video -do not fret!

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fire-safetyb1

Today was the second annual Jell-O War!  RA Chris in Esopus Hall came up with it last year and it was so successful that this year Scudder Hall did it as well!  What is a “Jell-O War,” you ask?  Well, it stars the night before in a mass Jell-O making campaign.  For a war of our magnitude, RA Chris, RA Kim and PA Felipe prepared eleven trays of Jell-O, with approximately three packets to a tray …you do the math!  Then, as usual ,the Jell-O is chilled overnight, and cut up the next day.  As far as the game is concerned, everyone is given a number (to wear/hold) and then a group of numbers (i.e. 1-15) is called out at a time, and the goal is to eliminate -by way of Jell-O throws- the number above yours.  As soon as you’re tagged with Jell-O, You’re OUT!  However, if you are the victor, you are to seek out your former opponent’s target.  And if I didn’t explain it well enough, just trust me: It’s AWESOME!!!

However, this year, the Jell-O liquefied in the trays, and a Jell-O Free-for-All ensued.  But it was all good, and I got some sweet shots from the sidelines.

In other recent news, I was able to get into “Women Images and Realities,” class.  This is my second semester in a row trying to get into the course, but it was well worth it.  I have heard nothing but good things from the course and I even heard from RA Kim: “It changed my life!” -So if dat ain’t proof, I donno what is! I must say, that although I just-got-in, it has been very enlightening, thus far.  So now when people ask what courses are good to take, I can at least say: “Women Images and Realities.”

Check out the Jell-O War pictures,

Thanks,

Matt Stracq

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