It's as if I never left...

As September comes to a close, I find myself for some reason struggling to begin this blog. Maybe it's because I have nothing to say? That can't be it. I may be reticent, but that's not the smae thing. Anyways my voice has always shone through more in writing, you all know that as well as the next bloke. (Yes, British English has engulfed me, next thing you know I'll be saying chips and biscuits in lieu of fries and cookies and getting excited about rugby, of which, incidentally, I confess an embarrassing ignorance. Could it be due to the very mild but still present hangover that awaited me after a wild and crazy night for a wild and crazy man who can't be tamed? (You had to be there, that's all I can say with regards to last night's goings-on, lol). Anyway, whatever the reason, I'm having some trouble thinking of a theme for this blog, so I'm going to just save myself the trouble and not write one.

Some of you may be wondering why I changed my name on Facebook to Ivan Durak. Some of you may disapprove, some of you might appreciate the reference, but I suspect most of you are confused. "Why the hell would he change his name? What's wrong with Jon? Has he become a communist????" Don't worry, for some of you gloomy gussies who don't approve, I'm "changing" my name back to Jon. I just thought that because Ivan Durak or Ivan the Fool is a reoccuring character, kind of a simpleton, treated as such by his brothers, but very kind and a recipient of mystical gifts/powers to help him with the tasks he is asked to perform and ends up marrying a princess at the end, and that because I'm writing my thesis on fairy tales, it might be fun to experiment a bit, joke around on facebook. But I myself have already gotten bored with the idea. Maybe I'll return to it later on, but for now I'll stick to Jonathan. which means "gift from God." Who can argue with that, after all?! (A verbal lashing awaits them who try, muahahaha) Certainly beats being Benjamin...this, of course, is another story for another time.

Choir, I can foresee, is going to get progressively more amusing with each rehearsal. Here's why:

You have all the parts not to make more papers in your hands or to make it look more important!

Save the men...don't breathe!

Please, control!

As you can see, I've revived a long-favored tradition of writing down popular quotes. That's all I can remember now, as I don't have my music with me at the moment, but rest assured more will come. Spaciba, Sergei! :)

Not much else going on at the moment. Sydney, our MPC choir director (with a BRILLIANT voice) is leaving this week, so all my best for him as he begins his new post in the U.S. This means that you know who will, surprise surprise be holding his own as understatedly awesome tenor. 0:) Gotta prepare an oral report on Bach's Goldberg Variations for Thursday and write a referat for Monday (booo). Definitely enjoy singing in the three (or several dozen, as some would have you believe, they who are exaggeration prone) choirs, all of which, funny enough meet at St. Andrew's, which really has become my home away from home here in Moscow.

Lots of time for merry music-making + crazy evenings with friends = one hell of a good September. Here's to more of the same, and the hope that in the very short future a very special friend will come to Moscow...yes, ever the optimist, have always been and always will be, no matter what. I've recently discovered that it does no good to mope and hold grudges, it's always better to forgive, to remember the good times and to move on. Tomorrow is a new day, a clean slate. Tomorrow is also a day for singing and praising the Lord. Hallelujah! With that said, I shall take my leave and quit this cafe forthwith.

Thanks to everyone for reading the blog. Keep posting your thoughts, memories of good times we've shared and will share, and ideas for future blogs. Love you and miss you all!!! Looking forward to a few weeks of relaxtion and adventures back in the homeland this winter, but for now, just keep swimming! Duuuuude.

Cheers,

Jon :)