I have been home from Wheaton for a little over seven weeks, and I have a little over seven weeks remaining before I return to school, and I have yet to post to this weblog this month, so I see it as a very appropriate time to write some reflections.
I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t know quite what to expect during my first summer home from college. I had lived at home for several shorter periods during the school year, of course. My 23-day winter break had all the usual elements of home life – visits to my locally residing relatives, a short vacation, and making use of my hometown’s amenities. But summer is a little different. It’s four times as long, for one thing, so I have many more opportunities to both relax and be productive. A few notable events thus far this summer…
For the third consecutive summer, I have taken seasonal employment with the Park District of Oak Park, working in pool operations. During my first summer, I had the position of facility and bike attendant (an entry-level position with responsibilities of entrance security and facility housekeeping); last year, I had the position of pool maintenance technician (responsibility for maintaining the safe operation of the facility, including end-of-day shut down). This summer, I have been promoted to the senior staff position of Pool Operations Coordinator (alternatively, Facility Operations Coordinator). About three days after I returned home, I called my manager to inquire about when I might start working and she informed me of the promotion.
And so, since Memorial Day weekend, I have been learning this new position. It has presented a few challenges, but I am really enjoying it. It gives me a sense of pleasure when I sign the bottom of a report and the end of my shift, certifying that the day’s work was successfully completed under my watch.
Also, I decided to make my goal of graduating in four years a little easier by fulfilling two general education requirements at a community college this summer. I took an online rhetoric and composition course to fulfill my writing requirement and a traditional format elementary Spanish course to fulfill my foreign language requirement. I finished these two courses, both through Triton College, at the end of last week, and plan to have the credits transferred to Wheaton before the end of July. I have to say, I am really glad that I have finished those classes. I did pick up some knowledge, sure, but on the whole the classes caused stress that I would rather have done without. But, like I said, I finished, and I am two courses closer to finishing my bachelor’s degree.
Between work and school, of course, I have been more or less tied down for the last month and a half. I am thankful, however, that I have been able to go to worship services at Calvary Memorial Church every Sunday since I got home, and been able to see friends there each week. Also, four weeks ago, I saw my high school youth pastor, Craig Hammond. He and his family moved to Oregon this month, where they will start missions work with college students in the fall. I had not expected to see him again before he left, but he even had a small good-bye party a few Sundays ago. To make it better, I saw him at church earlier that day – a very pleasant surprise. It was really nice to be able to catch up briefly and say good-bye properly.
Also this past month, I attended my first-ever wedding. My cousin, Greg Steinsdoerfer, and his girlfriend of five years, Melissa Waterman, married in an outdoor ceremony in Geneva, Illinois on Saturday, June 7. It almost started to rain in the middle of the ceremony, but the weather held off and Mr. and Mrs. Greg Steinsdoerfer walked back down the aisle under sunny skies.
And that was the first half of summer 2008. Emphasis on half. I still have the whole month of July and a few weeks in August, and already I have a few but not too many plans for these next seven weeks.
In two and a half weeks, on July 18, I am flying down to Florida to spend five days with Naomi. She and I are both (rather impatiently) awaiting my arrival. We’ve both found it difficult at times being apart for so long. I am really looking forward to seeing her and exploring central Florida with her.
I return from Florida on July 23, and two and a half weeks later my family and I will take a vacation to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Our trip will also include two days with my dad’s aunt in Denver. Colorado is by far my favorite vacation destination (this will be my fourth vacation to that state), and I am really looking forward to that trip as well.
Before and in between my trips, I have a few smaller goals. The first is to get away from the computer (inevitable when you take an online course) and spend some time with my friends in person. I also want to practice trombone more than I did during June (I am currently preparing materials to audition for the symphony orchestra and symphonic band at Wheaton in the fall), and keep my skills at piano and ear-training strong.
And that’s a brief snapshot of summer 2008. It’s certainly kept me busy so far, and while I no longer have classes, I have enough to do to keep me busy until I go back to school. But I like a busy life sometimes.
This is Rubio, over and out.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Dramatic License
I took some time this weekend to go and see the recently released The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, the second installment in the Disney-Walden Media film adaptations of the C.S. Lewis masterpieces. The film, on the whole, impressed me.
As anyone who has read a review of the film will know, director Andrew Adamson and his production and screenwriting team took considerably more license in this film than in the 2005 release The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The overall plot was unaffected, but parts of it were interchanged, shortened, or lengthened. The biggest difference in the timeline that I noticed was the almost total reduction of the time between Prince Caspian’s flight from his uncle’s castle and his meeting the Pevensie children. I can see the reasons for this change, however: in the novel, the longer time interval covers Caspian’s meetings with the various Old Narnians, which would take up too much screen time. Also missing was Caspian’s youth, which may cause confusion among viewers who have not read the novel and will not understand Caspian’s history. But, the overall plot was there, all the characters were there, and the themes were there, too.
I thought the concept and scene design were very well done, as was the actual cinematography. I was a little disappointed at the score. Harrison Gregson-Williams used themes from his score for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, but it never swelled to the high point I expected, not even during the battle scenes. I also thought the character of Doctor Cornelius wasn’t developed enough, but that is probably due to the absence of Caspian’s youth onscreen.
I'm not a film critic, of course, but I would give this film three stars, and I am quite looking forward to the (expected) May 2010 release of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
This is Rubio, over and out.
As anyone who has read a review of the film will know, director Andrew Adamson and his production and screenwriting team took considerably more license in this film than in the 2005 release The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The overall plot was unaffected, but parts of it were interchanged, shortened, or lengthened. The biggest difference in the timeline that I noticed was the almost total reduction of the time between Prince Caspian’s flight from his uncle’s castle and his meeting the Pevensie children. I can see the reasons for this change, however: in the novel, the longer time interval covers Caspian’s meetings with the various Old Narnians, which would take up too much screen time. Also missing was Caspian’s youth, which may cause confusion among viewers who have not read the novel and will not understand Caspian’s history. But, the overall plot was there, all the characters were there, and the themes were there, too.
I thought the concept and scene design were very well done, as was the actual cinematography. I was a little disappointed at the score. Harrison Gregson-Williams used themes from his score for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, but it never swelled to the high point I expected, not even during the battle scenes. I also thought the character of Doctor Cornelius wasn’t developed enough, but that is probably due to the absence of Caspian’s youth onscreen.
I'm not a film critic, of course, but I would give this film three stars, and I am quite looking forward to the (expected) May 2010 release of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
This is Rubio, over and out.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Year One
Five hundred and one days ago, I received by mail an offer of admission to Wheaton College. Two hundred and forty days later, or two hundred and sixty days ago, I moved in to Traber Hall 512 and that evening began Freshman Orientation. Late this morning, I vacated 512 and returned to my childhood home in Oak Park for a term of one hundred and three days. Those two days, December 26, 2006, and August 23, 2007, stood out in my mind today. As did several people and events about which I shall presently discuss.
First I should like to talk a bit about my experiences with the weather. Oak Park and River Forest High School is essentially a single-building campus. The school does have a stadium but, not being an athlete, I spent more or less all of my school days in high school confined to the rooms and corridors of the main building. As such, I was physically separated from the weather. Not so on the eighty-acre, multi-building campus of Wheaton College. A few stretches of particularly cold days in January and February of this year come to mind. I remember one Saturday morning, the first weekend of the spring semester, when it was bright and sunny, but the high temperature for the day was two below. Not to mention that tornado-thunderstorm combination on the first day of Orientation in August. Unfortunately, I was in the laundry room of Smith-Traber Hall at the time, so I have no firsthand knowledge of the events.
Once I made it safely to my destinations and went indoors, away from the weather, I engaged in the rigorous academics that define Wheaton College. My academic growth this past year is my next point. Let me say, for the record, that I learned so much this year. Being a music education major has stretched my mental faculties like nothing else ever has. The constant comments on my improvement from my private trombone instructor, Audrey Morrison, come to mind (my private lessons went really well this semester, for which I am exceptionally thankful). I also really enjoyed the education class I took this semester, so thanks to Steven Loomis in that department for all his work. I am really excited about my major, and at times I have to stop myself from dreaming about the four-year plan I formed over spring break and focus on the classes currently in progress.
One of the best single memories from this past year happened about a month ago. It was the Artist Series’ presentation of the Berlioz Requiem. I wrote on the Requiem in a previous entry, but I want to reiterate how exciting it was to be a part of such a large-scale production, and to watch and hear it go so well. I am really glad that I had the opportunity to stage manage for the performances, and also that most of my friends at Wheaton were involved.
Speaking of my friends leads me to my next point. I should like to write a few words about the amazing people in my life, because I certainly have found some very quality friends at Wheaton College. They are people who actually want to know how I am when they ask, and people who I know will pray for me if I ask and even without me asking. I want to thank in particular my small group leader, Greg Hughes, as well as the other five men in the group, my roommate this past year, Sam Ostransky, and the one friend at Wheaton whom I knew before Wheaton, Heidi Jahns, for all their prayers and support.
And, of course, any summary of the people in my life would not be complete without mention of my amazing, beautiful girlfriend, Naomi Attaway. Aside from the fact that I have had so much fun hanging out with her, she has been incredibly supportive as I struggled with some self-identity and self-esteem issues this semester, and she has also been incredibly gracious as I learned how to be a good boyfriend. Her encouragement and patience and prayers mean so much to me. Our relationship presented some challenges as we learned how to meet each other’s needs, but it has been so rewarding. I am really excited to visit her and her family in Florida in July.
Finally, prompted by a discussion I had with Sam two nights ago, I want to summarize my spiritual growth this year. As I mentioned above, I have had some occasions this semester where my sense of worth was low. I felt at times that I hadn’t accomplished anything of significance (usually right after a particularly unproductive hour in the practice room). But the people who care about me were always there to remind me that I do have worth, and that I have accomplished plenty this year.
That lesson is related to one I had earlier in the year, when I was struggling to let go of my ambitions for college and my life in general and let God have control. I have learned that my worth and value are all because He has chosen to call me His own. God has given me all that I have purely out of love for me, so who am I to try to run my life, to think that my ideas are better than His? I have not stopped being the organized, schedule-oriented person that I am, but I am getting better at making sure everything I do, every project, every commitment, every relationship, is pleasing and glorifying to Him.
And those points are some of the highlights from my freshman year at Wheaton College. People who had already completed their freshman year as of last summer warned me that it would change my perspective and change my life. They were right. I am extremely grateful that I have three and a half months of summer to relax, spend some time with my family, and pursue some personal interests (along with keeping in shape as a musician), but at the same time, I can hardly wait to get back to Wheaton in August.
This is Rubio, over and out.
First I should like to talk a bit about my experiences with the weather. Oak Park and River Forest High School is essentially a single-building campus. The school does have a stadium but, not being an athlete, I spent more or less all of my school days in high school confined to the rooms and corridors of the main building. As such, I was physically separated from the weather. Not so on the eighty-acre, multi-building campus of Wheaton College. A few stretches of particularly cold days in January and February of this year come to mind. I remember one Saturday morning, the first weekend of the spring semester, when it was bright and sunny, but the high temperature for the day was two below. Not to mention that tornado-thunderstorm combination on the first day of Orientation in August. Unfortunately, I was in the laundry room of Smith-Traber Hall at the time, so I have no firsthand knowledge of the events.
Once I made it safely to my destinations and went indoors, away from the weather, I engaged in the rigorous academics that define Wheaton College. My academic growth this past year is my next point. Let me say, for the record, that I learned so much this year. Being a music education major has stretched my mental faculties like nothing else ever has. The constant comments on my improvement from my private trombone instructor, Audrey Morrison, come to mind (my private lessons went really well this semester, for which I am exceptionally thankful). I also really enjoyed the education class I took this semester, so thanks to Steven Loomis in that department for all his work. I am really excited about my major, and at times I have to stop myself from dreaming about the four-year plan I formed over spring break and focus on the classes currently in progress.
One of the best single memories from this past year happened about a month ago. It was the Artist Series’ presentation of the Berlioz Requiem. I wrote on the Requiem in a previous entry, but I want to reiterate how exciting it was to be a part of such a large-scale production, and to watch and hear it go so well. I am really glad that I had the opportunity to stage manage for the performances, and also that most of my friends at Wheaton were involved.
Speaking of my friends leads me to my next point. I should like to write a few words about the amazing people in my life, because I certainly have found some very quality friends at Wheaton College. They are people who actually want to know how I am when they ask, and people who I know will pray for me if I ask and even without me asking. I want to thank in particular my small group leader, Greg Hughes, as well as the other five men in the group, my roommate this past year, Sam Ostransky, and the one friend at Wheaton whom I knew before Wheaton, Heidi Jahns, for all their prayers and support.
And, of course, any summary of the people in my life would not be complete without mention of my amazing, beautiful girlfriend, Naomi Attaway. Aside from the fact that I have had so much fun hanging out with her, she has been incredibly supportive as I struggled with some self-identity and self-esteem issues this semester, and she has also been incredibly gracious as I learned how to be a good boyfriend. Her encouragement and patience and prayers mean so much to me. Our relationship presented some challenges as we learned how to meet each other’s needs, but it has been so rewarding. I am really excited to visit her and her family in Florida in July.
Finally, prompted by a discussion I had with Sam two nights ago, I want to summarize my spiritual growth this year. As I mentioned above, I have had some occasions this semester where my sense of worth was low. I felt at times that I hadn’t accomplished anything of significance (usually right after a particularly unproductive hour in the practice room). But the people who care about me were always there to remind me that I do have worth, and that I have accomplished plenty this year.
That lesson is related to one I had earlier in the year, when I was struggling to let go of my ambitions for college and my life in general and let God have control. I have learned that my worth and value are all because He has chosen to call me His own. God has given me all that I have purely out of love for me, so who am I to try to run my life, to think that my ideas are better than His? I have not stopped being the organized, schedule-oriented person that I am, but I am getting better at making sure everything I do, every project, every commitment, every relationship, is pleasing and glorifying to Him.
And those points are some of the highlights from my freshman year at Wheaton College. People who had already completed their freshman year as of last summer warned me that it would change my perspective and change my life. They were right. I am extremely grateful that I have three and a half months of summer to relax, spend some time with my family, and pursue some personal interests (along with keeping in shape as a musician), but at the same time, I can hardly wait to get back to Wheaton in August.
This is Rubio, over and out.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Quite Possibly the Most Enjoyable Weekend of the Semester
To reiterate, I am quite possibly having the most enjoyable weekend of the spring semester. There are several reasons for this statement.
To conclude this year’s Artist Series at Wheaton College, the Conservatory’s three choirs and orchestra, with the assistance of the Northern Illinois University Concert Choir, the Valparaiso University Chorale and Bach Choir, the Apollo Chorus of Chicago, and a number of guest instrumentalists, joined by tenor John Tessier and ’63 alumnus Maestro John Nelson (that’s a total of about 550 people) presented the Requiem by Hector Berlioz. The Artist Series presented two performances, Friday and Saturday, to houses that were at least eighty and ninety percent sold, respectively. I had the privilege of leading the stage managing team this weekend.
Putting together the Berlioz Requiem is an enormous undertaking, as you may be able to tell from the list above of all the participating ensembles. The piece itself was a challenge for all the performers to prepare. Maestro Nelson, who currently works as music director of the L’Ensemble orchestral de Paris, arrived two weeks before opening night for a rigorous rehearsal schedule on Wheaton’s campus. The ensembles had been working with their faculty directors for weeks previously.
In the meantime, I was busy with logistical preparations for the weekend. My responsibilities as stage manager include backstage security, coordinating the start of the performance with the house manager and the lighting technician, equipment management, and making myself available to the conductor – Maestro Nelson, in this case. This past Thursday was the final dress rehearsal, and I was in attendance to make final preparations and to listen to the final run-through, as I would not be seated in the hall during the performances themselves.
I am pleased to say that, though they presented some challenges, the preparations all went well and at 8 PM on Friday night, the choir and orchestra were on stage, and I radioed to the house manager and the lighting technician that Maestro Nelson was ready to begin. I let the invocator and then the concertmaster onto the stage, and then it was my great privilege to open to door and let Maestro Nelson onto the stage to begin the performance.
Both performances went very well, both musically and also in terms of everything for which I had responsibility. I had so much fun working at the concerts. I can’t even begin to describe what it was like to hear the Berlioz Requiem performed at Wheaton College. It was truly an amazing accomplishment.
A few other things have only added to the enjoyableness of this weekend.
Tonight was Band Banquet. Members of the symphonic band and some guests gathered for dinner and fellowship at Riverside Receptions in Geneva (about ten miles west of the College). It was a really enjoyable evening.
This weekend has also been in the middle of a string of days with really nice weather. It’s been so nice to walk out of class and find the morning chilliness gone. Today is especially nice. Just this afternoon I went outside and stretched out on lawn in front of my residence hall.
And finally, today is Naomi’s and my three-month anniversary. I cannot begin to describe how amazing the last three months have been. I have learned so much about myself and about God through my relationship with this amazing young woman. I am really excited to go visit her and her family in Florida in July. Happy three months, Naomi!
This is Rubio, over and out.
To conclude this year’s Artist Series at Wheaton College, the Conservatory’s three choirs and orchestra, with the assistance of the Northern Illinois University Concert Choir, the Valparaiso University Chorale and Bach Choir, the Apollo Chorus of Chicago, and a number of guest instrumentalists, joined by tenor John Tessier and ’63 alumnus Maestro John Nelson (that’s a total of about 550 people) presented the Requiem by Hector Berlioz. The Artist Series presented two performances, Friday and Saturday, to houses that were at least eighty and ninety percent sold, respectively. I had the privilege of leading the stage managing team this weekend.
Putting together the Berlioz Requiem is an enormous undertaking, as you may be able to tell from the list above of all the participating ensembles. The piece itself was a challenge for all the performers to prepare. Maestro Nelson, who currently works as music director of the L’Ensemble orchestral de Paris, arrived two weeks before opening night for a rigorous rehearsal schedule on Wheaton’s campus. The ensembles had been working with their faculty directors for weeks previously.
In the meantime, I was busy with logistical preparations for the weekend. My responsibilities as stage manager include backstage security, coordinating the start of the performance with the house manager and the lighting technician, equipment management, and making myself available to the conductor – Maestro Nelson, in this case. This past Thursday was the final dress rehearsal, and I was in attendance to make final preparations and to listen to the final run-through, as I would not be seated in the hall during the performances themselves.
I am pleased to say that, though they presented some challenges, the preparations all went well and at 8 PM on Friday night, the choir and orchestra were on stage, and I radioed to the house manager and the lighting technician that Maestro Nelson was ready to begin. I let the invocator and then the concertmaster onto the stage, and then it was my great privilege to open to door and let Maestro Nelson onto the stage to begin the performance.
Both performances went very well, both musically and also in terms of everything for which I had responsibility. I had so much fun working at the concerts. I can’t even begin to describe what it was like to hear the Berlioz Requiem performed at Wheaton College. It was truly an amazing accomplishment.
A few other things have only added to the enjoyableness of this weekend.
Tonight was Band Banquet. Members of the symphonic band and some guests gathered for dinner and fellowship at Riverside Receptions in Geneva (about ten miles west of the College). It was a really enjoyable evening.
This weekend has also been in the middle of a string of days with really nice weather. It’s been so nice to walk out of class and find the morning chilliness gone. Today is especially nice. Just this afternoon I went outside and stretched out on lawn in front of my residence hall.
And finally, today is Naomi’s and my three-month anniversary. I cannot begin to describe how amazing the last three months have been. I have learned so much about myself and about God through my relationship with this amazing young woman. I am really excited to go visit her and her family in Florida in July. Happy three months, Naomi!
This is Rubio, over and out.
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