But to get really honest, that isn't the root issue here.  It's the combination of a number of things.  Have I accomplished anything?  Have I grown and changed?  Have I risked and invested?  Do I have any friends who will actually care at least a bit when I'm gone?  Will my life turn out like it should, or will I screw it up?  Was it worth four years of my life and thousands of dollars of my parents' money (and eventually mine once I start paying off loans)?  Does my family know I love them and owe them the world but don't really know how to show it?  Am I ready to move on into real life?  Maybe it's the fact that it's 2:30 in the morning, and I should be sleeping, but I guess you could say I'm in a pensive mood.  I just want to make a difference and live without regrets.  And more than anything, I'm scared of being alone, which is something I'd much rather share with a friend or a special someone who is more than a friend, but at this point, I don't have the latter, and I question the former.  My phone sits silent most of the time, unless someone needs something, and not very often does my computer make that fun whooshing sound, announcing an incoming instant message.  Man, it's a good thing no one reads this, or you'd probably consider this an invitation to my pity party and then slap me for being such an idiot.  I am being serious, but realize that I don't intend to over-dramatize it.  I just think about these things sometimes, and the closer I become to a college graduate, the more they shift to the foreground.  It is good to know, or at least to assume, that there are other people who process these same things.  And of course, if I could figure out how to surrender control, there is One who can take care of it and me.  I guess I'm not alone.

Matt

Anywho, next semester is almost here, and not only is it the only thing standing between me and summer break (aka warm weather), it is the only thing standing between me and real life. Yes, folks, that's right. It's my LAST semester of college, and very likely my last semester of school ever. I'm not closed to the thought of going farther in my education if necessary someday, but for now, I think I'll be done.

As I mentioned in my last post, a number of my friends will be marrying soon, and since the writing of said post, I've thought of a number of more friends who find themselves victims of the same fate. Forgive my terminology; maybe I'm just bitter at my state of singleness. Anyway, I'll be playing for a few of these weddings and receptions, and probably attending most or all of them, so that will be one feature of my summer. Also, I hope to be touring and playing music so I don't have to get a real job.

If you get a chance, you should check out my website www.mattulrich.com. If you've ever visited it before, you will probably notice that nothing major has changed. Oh, but that's just what you notice at first glance. If you'll recall, clicking a link would simply take you to the desired website. Well, now you get the pleasure of a new experience. Click a link. It's sweet. You'll like it. I promise.

I'm a nerd...

Lately, I've had a strong desire to start a podcast. You laugh and think that if I don't update my blog, why would I ever update my podcast. You're probably right. Plus, I don't have a ton of hard drive space left, nor do I have very good equipment with which to make a podcast with any semblance of professionalism. Plus, who would care anyway? So on to other pursuits...

I've also had a realization that I might really like to get into scoring films or television shows. I just finished watching the 5th season of 24 on DVD (my Christmas present to myself), and one of the bonus features was a featurette about the guy who does the music and how he does it. I was very intrigued, but also quite sad that apparently you need to be rich to do something like this, because I could never afford the hardware and software with which scores for shows of that magnitude are produced. I suppose I could work my way up. It's another option for "real life" I guess...

Well, I've officially covered topics that allow me to file this post under every category, so I guess that means there's not much left to say. It's getting late, and I need to get out of the habit of sleeping in past noon. My Monday, Wednesday, Friday classes once again start at 9am next semester, and sleeping through them isn't really an option. Friends, thank you for your listening ear (or in the case of this blog, your reading eye). Happy new year, and God bless America!

Matt

G'nite!

Matt

I love you all.

Matt

Sleepy I Am,
Yoda

Let's start with Christmas break. Wow, has it really been that long since I last blogged? I guess so. Anyway...so my church back home in Dutch Vegas, Michigan had a fancy Christmas Eve/Morning service. They asked me to sing and play in this service, which was exciting. It turned out that I played B-3 and keyboards on a few songs, sang the 2nd tenor part in a quartet, and sang "O Holy Night" as a solo also featuring my good friend Ken on the piano. I was fairly nervous, but it went off pretty dern well...nothing to go home and cry about. Um, what next? Oh yeah...I got a digital camera from my Dad for Christmas. He won it, but I convinced him that he wouldn't use it to its full potential (and he already has one anyway), so he gave it to me. I'm so naughty... Anywho, I've been taking pictures and will continue to do so, so hopefully I'll be sharing some of them with you right here on the blog. You can check out my complete gallery at gallery.mattulrich.com. Unfortunately, I've not found the time to get all my pictures up yet. I'll get around to it eventually.

Ok, now on to this semester. For starters, I saw Chronicles of Narnia with Doug Irving on the day it came out. It was super-dee-duper. It's a must-see for me and hopefully for you too. But let's back up for a bit. I came back to school a week earlier than almost everyone else for a couple reasons. I bet you'd like to know what those reasons are. Well, let me tell you. First of all, I now play country music. I'll let you take a minute to recover from that piece of news. (pause - only continue of you're ready) Mark Pay (president of Orangehaus Records) hooked me up with a country gig, playing keys for a girl named Paige, who is only 15 years old but you'd never know it by listening to her or looking at her. Anyway, she's very talented and has great potential to go far with this whole music thing. Anyway, back to why I came back to school early. Paige has been performing at fair conventions in the four surrounding states (OH, IN, MI, and IL...just in case you didn't know), and two of those performances were the week before classes started. So I came back early to practice and perform with her. But that's not all. My friend Nathanael is new Orangehaus Records recording artist, so he has been working on his new album. The recording process also started the week before classes. Check my gallery for pictures from both Paige shows and recording Nathanael's album.

Ok, last thing. I promise. I just started a position at East Side Church of God in the worship arts department. I'm not really sure what my title is, but I think it's something like Production Assistant. Basically, I'm acting commander of the band (sorta), behind Pastor Mick of course. I make sure that everyone that's scheduled to play is actually planning on playing, I make sure the stage is ready for the band by Sunday morning, I lead the 7:30am band rehearsal every Sunday morning, and I help develop players and integrate new ones into the band rotation. Sound fun? I think so. I get paid too. That's nice.

This post took way too long to write (distractions, distractions), so now I will close. That is all.

Adieu,
Matt

Comment on this post so I can know more than the usual 2-4 people are reading my blog regularly. This post could even be a guestbook of sorts.

There, I said it.

Goodnight.

Matt

Oh by the way, you can check out the few photos I do have in my Facebook photo album (because I scanned hard copies years ago). Click here. I have a few more to put up, but for some reason, my superdrive on my Powerbook isn't working, so I can't get them off the cd. You can donate money for a new drive or--even better--a new iMac by clicking the same button.

Peace.

Matt

Matt, aka Matthew, aka Matty, aka Melonhead, aka Mellonhead, aka Melonfoot

Matt

1. I need to make sure my relationship with God is on track
2. I need to make sure to be a godly son, brother, and friend
3. I need to lose weight and get in shape
4. I need to learn to play the guitar
5. I need to commit some time to service (right now, some sort of youth ministry seems to fit...maybe because I'm jealous of my friends who are camp counselors for the summer...I'd like to do that some summer as well as maybe help out the youth group at my church either while home or at school, or both)

Alright, I'm going to be dead tired at work tomorrow. I'd better get to bed now before I make it any worse. One day of work before an elongated July 4 weekend...what's the point? I guess a miniscule check is better than no check at all.

Matt

I wish:

1. For interesting things to blog about and plenty of time to do it.

2. For people to actually read my blog.

As far as I can tell, since I've decided to deviate away from the blogging clichés such as Xanga, LiveJournal, and Blogger, there are an average of 2-4 people that read my blog, and one of them is my Mom (love you, Mom). Of course, as I think about it, maybe people don't read it because I don't update very often. What's the point of checking a website regularly when the updates are very sparse? Hm... I guess that's something for me to consider. My other option is that noone cares. And honestly, I don't blame them. What's new and exciting in my life doesn't have to be exciting to others...and probably isn't. Plus, I must confess that it's somewhat rare that I read other people's blogs. Why would I expect them to read mine?

No, I'm not depressed, nor am I looking for some sort of affirmation of your love for me. Not in the least. These are just thoughts and questions I'm pondering. I sometimes think, "I should post a blog entry," but then wonder if it's a good use of my time and mental energy. Usually, I opt to do other things like sleep or eat or hang out with a friend...or work. So for now, I will update when something worthwhile crosses my mind, and I happen to have access to the internet. Who knows how often that will be.

Stop using 's to make words plural. I hate that. Oh, and while you're at it, use your/you're and there/their/they're correctly. Thanks!

Matt

Ok, time for sleepy.

Matt

This was the pastor who dedicated both my brother and myself when we were babies, so you can see this man has meant quite a bit to my family.

Over the past few years, Pastor Fridley had been suffering from Parkinson's disease, which was sad to see. I didn't know him as well as I would have liked because we moved from Milwaukee to Holland, Michigan not long after I was born. After hearing the testimonies at the funeral and doing some thinking about the things I do remember about him, I realize how committed he really was to the Lord. Despite the disease, his heart of love kept pounding. When I'd see him, the few words I could understand amidst his feeble speech were either prayers, Scripture, or words of encouragement and genuine concern for the people around him. That could only be because it's what he knew best. That was his life. This lead me to think. If I were to develop a similar disease with which my thoughts and speech would be severely limited, what would be the few things that would still be understood? What would be so engrained in me that not even a debilitating disease could take away? I sure hope it's something quite similar to I've heard from Pastor Fridley. But I know I've got a long way to go.

Something for me, and hopefully you as well, to consider.

Matt