Hi. It’s me again. That’s right, another post less than 24 hours after the previous one. The way a blog should be, at least if it wants to attract and retain readers…if you ask me. But seriously, don’t ask me, because I obviously don’t practice what I preach. Anyway, I’m bored. I probably should just go to bed, but as you learned in the last post, that probably won’t happen (although I am laying on my stomach on the bed while typing this, and I occasionally find myself laying my head down and closing my eyes while still typing). Let’s run over everything I did today. First I woke up around 9:15. Then I showered and got ready for work. Then I went to work at 10. From noon to 2, Micah, Cliff, Eric, and I practiced in the sanctuary for a wedding reception we’re playing at on Sunday afternoon. Then I worked some more until almost 5. Following that, I returned home to Pastor Mick’s house and killed some time doing whatever kills time. A little before 7, I headed over to East Side Middle School to watch the Highland High School beat whoever it was that they played. There were a number of East Side people there. At halftime, I went to get some dinner at Taco Bell (don’t tell). After the game, I came back home and hung out with Micah for a while before finding myself right here on the computer, contemplating whether I should currently be in bed asleep. (Here’s a gap of time for when I put my head down after typing “asleep.”) I kind of want to watch an episode of Arrested Development, but I’m not sure it wouldn’t be smarter to just go to bed. Tomorrow I’m having lunch with Eryn Bowser, and in the evening, I’m going over to the Stuckey house for my belated birthday dinner with them. I think we’re eating Italian, but I’m not sure what sort of dessert we’re having because when Gina asked me what I wanted, I was pretty indecisive. I’m sure it will be great.

Ok, I think I must call it quits on this one and hit the sack. My head is currently down, and that is giving me great troubles while trying to type correctly.

Peace to you, my brethren and sistren.

Matt Ulrich (not #69 for the Colts)

It’s funny really. Every time I’m up way too late, I usually end up getting the song “Breathe (2AM)” by Anna Nalick stuck in my head. Then what usually happens is that I look at the clock and find that it is, indeed, just about 2 in the A.M. Weird, I know. You know what else usually happens when I’m up way too late? I start thinking about what little sleep I will be getting even if I were to go to bed immediately, and it makes me feel worse because I know I’ll feel exhausted tomorrow. Then when I wake up in the morning, I find that I was right about how I’d feel. It’s a pretty vicious cycle, and to be honest, I’m not much of a fan. There’s something to be said about staying up late if there’s a reason such as work that needs to be done, friends that need to be talked to or hung out with, or an indefinite (but definitely late) wake-up time. Anyway, here I find myself once again in the same situation. If there wasn’t Wi-Fi where I’m currently living, I’d have been dead to the world for a few hours by now, but alas, I find myself distracted. I actually wish that was the case. I usually can’t seem to pull myself away in a timely manner, and tonight is no different.

Anyway, since I hadn’t blogged in a while, I thought I’d stop in and say hi. I am currently living with Pastor Mick (my worship pastor and boss) while I make some life decisions, including one regarding where to live. I’ve been enjoying a summer of playing country music with Cook and Belle and working at the church. I was recently reminded by a commenter on this blog that I had made a list of everyone I could think of who was engaged (found in my October 15, ‘06 post). That list had, I believe, 13 people on it, and I do believe most, if not all, of them are now married. Also married are some other people who I did not include in the list either because I didn’t know they were engaged at the time or I simply couldn’t remember them while writing the list. I could get all emo and cry about how I’m still single and really not content with it, but I won’t. You probably are thanking me for not going there, which means we are becoming closer and friendlier. (If that’s the case, and you’re a single, attractive female, call me.)

That is all. Must…go…to…bed. Night.

If by any chance, anyone wants wants to buy me one (or multiples of one), that’d be swell. You can find a nice selection at vintagevantage.com. I wear a size large.

Let me know before you buy me one, and I’ll get you my address. Or you could just bring it to me. That would be fun and nice.

Matt

Um, I have this friend named Ben Utecht. He plays football, but he also sings. So anyway, there’s also this guy named Bill Gaither that does these concerts called “Homecoming” concerts. Well, it turns out this Bill fellow decided to ask my friend Ben to sing a song at his next concert in Indianapolis, which happens to be in the Conseco Fieldhouse (the stadium where the Indiana Pacers play), in front of 20,000 people. So that’s great for my friend Ben. As luck would have it, Ben is needing an accompanist for this gig. Well, since we’re friends, we have each other’s numbers; and sure enough his name came up on my phone tonight. Long story short, I’m playing for Ben at the Homecoming show this coming Friday night. Scary, and yet…wow.

I watched this football game a few hours ago, and there was this one team from Indianapolis (they were called the Colts).  They were pretty good.  In fact, they won.  It seemed to be kind of a big deal, so I’m happy.

(GO BEN UTECHT!)

Don’t worry everyone…I’m still a Packers fan.  The Colts are kinda like friend rock…you know…when your friend has a band, and you support them more out of the fact that you’re friends rather than actually liking their music.  Same idea.  That and the proximity effect.  Favre vs. Manning in Super Bowl XLII?

It’s funny.  No, I’m not referring to the fact that this is my second post of the new year, and it’s not even a week in.  I didn’t even make a resolution…  What I am referring to is how things change when one stops and takes inventory.  A moment ago, I came upstairs from hanging out with my brother, watching Scrubs, which, by the way, I find quite amusing.  Anyway, my e-mail inbox said I had a new wall post on Facebook from a friend of mine whom I knew was going to be gone for the next semester.  It turns out he’s already gone.  Plus, a couple of my other friends will be doing the same thing quite soon.  They’re all following different musical pursuits now that they’ve graduated.  You’d think that it would be no big deal right?  Well, not exactly.  You see, these guys have kinda been my musical compadres for the past while, and honestly, (pull out your tissues) I’m going to miss them.  Of course, they’ll probably be back, and there’s a good chance we’ll be playing together again as early as this summer, but I guess I’m sad they won’t be a part of my last semester of college.  In many ways, I’ve never felt as respected with anyone else as I have with them (which is strange because in many other ways, we are so different and would have never been friends had it not been for music, which speaks to the efficacy of the art), at least in the same way.  On some level, we understand each other unlike I feel I’ve ever been understood.

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

Yes, I know I am. I have been quite unfaithful to you, my readers; and it feels like every time I write, I am only coming up with a different and more creative way to express that sentiment. Once again, I humbly come before you with an apologetic heart and a meek spirit to ask your kindest forgiveness for my absence. Anyway, I find myself pretty bored as this Christmas break continues on. I’m hanging out with the fam at our new pad in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Yes friends, I no longer call Holland, Michigan home, although I will still claim it as my hometown since it’s where I learned about Jesus, it’s where I learned about love, it’s where I learned about working hard, and having a little was just enough. For those of you without country roots, that was a reference to “Boondocks” by Little Big Town.

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

to reintroduce myself. I am Matt, the narrator of this blog, located here at blog.mattulrich.com. Many apologies for leaving you hanging for so long. I wonder…how long has it been? Allow me to check when I posted last. (5 seconds pass) Alright, the verdict is that it has been a week shy of two months since my last post. I won’t even bother trying to bring you up to speed because it would take too much mental energy for me to think of everything, and I know you wouldn’t read that much anyway. This is assuming there are any of you left at all. Maybe I can pull a Mariah Carey and make a big comeback even after not releasing anything for a considerable amount of time.

Ok, I thought of a fun topic for this post. I will now attempt to list everyone I can think of that is engaged. Here goes:

Jon Mobley
Evan Gilmore
Nate Heironimus
Phil Larson
Tim Hollowell
Peter Smith
Dave Elwert
Ben Eades
Nate Brown
Curt Anderson
Mark DeLaVergne
Ryan Fancher
Jeremy Zerkle

Well, that’s about all I can think of at this time, and that only accounts for guy friends from college. I have plenty of female and high school friends who are also engaged. Hopefully you enjoyed that list, and if you know of anyone I forgot, please feel free to leave your input. Oh yeah, I thought you’d like to know I’m currently listening to Foreigner, and what song should come on but “Waiting for a Girl Like You.” Ironic really.

Much love,
Matt