Slideshow
Ok, everyone...remember the days in elementary school when you'd watch a slideshow which was accompanied by a sound recording on tape? What's the part that everyone remembers about it? That's right, the beep, that annoying noise which happened between every explanation, indicating that the projector operator should continue on to the next slide. Well, we're going to try this technique here, except when you hear (see in this case) the beep, click it. Herrrr we go!
Slide 1 (Background): For the past year, I've been trying to get a free iPod from freeipods.com. In that time, I've seen them go from offering the 20 GB black-and-white-display iPod to the 20 GB color-display iPod to finally the 30 GB video iPod. When the video iPod was announced, I quite honestly probably coveted and lusted and likely broke a few more of the Ten Commandments and the seven deadly sins. Needless to say, I wanted one. A few weeks back, I finally acquired my final referral. It told me to check back in 5-7 days to see if my account was approved (they recheck each referral). Of course I checked back almost every day. A few days later, the ETA had changed to 7-10 days. I was a little disheartened, but I figured I'd waited a year, so what's another few days? Well, I'm pretty sure it ended up being much longer than 10 days, but maybe it just felt longer. I logged on not too long ago (like an hour), and found this:
Slide 2: I was pretty stoked (to reference a colloquialism from an earlier era). So I continued on into this journey. Next I got to select my prize.
Slide 3: Thank goodness I wasn't wanting an iPod nano...4-6 weeks??? Anyway...I continued on. I entered the address to which I wanted my video iPod to come. Of course this is my school address. Why would I want it to be sent home? Actually, now that I think about it, I'd better get it before Christmas break, or I'll be upset.
Slide 4: There was a "discrepancy" with the way I formatted the address, so I got this screen:
Slide 5: Upon fixing the problem, I was successful in submitting my address. All that's left is to click "Finalize." Here we go!
Slide 6: It's done! I hope I don't have to wait forever.
Oh, I get a free t-shirt too. I hope it fits, and I hope it's at least somewhat cool so I can wear it with pride whilst I listen to music and watch videos on my iPod! Thanks to everyone that helped out in this process. For those whom I bribed, let me know if you still want the cash. 
Thank you for your attention, children. Class dismissed.
BEEP!
Random…
So here's what you'd call a hodge-podge of topics in one post, a potpourri if you will. Let's get it started!
First off, here's a song I wrote for songwriting class. It's called "All My Days (Surrender to You)." It was supposed to be a worship song suitable for corporate worship. Well, it turned out to be a great worship song, but better for a soloist. Oh well. The lyrics please...
VERSE 1
O faithful One, of Whom I sing
This simple song to You I bring
Accept my praise; be magnified
In You I will be satisfied
CHORUS
I sing to the One and Only
You alone are pure and holy
My sole Desire, I give you praise
I surrender to You all my days
VERSE 2
O worthy One, what can I do
To glorify and honor You?
Words can’t express how You love me
Only Your blood on Calvary
BRIDGE
I am unworthy
But You made a way for me
You run my direction
Despite my imperfection
I might record it someday so you can hear it and not just read the words.
Topic #2: I put a song up on my MySpace page. It was a project for my recording tech class. Here's the link: myspace.com/mattulrich
Thirdly, I almost died tonite. Well, not really, but I thought I might. There was supposed to be a huge storm of "historic proportions" coming through, but we got lucky. There wasn't much of anything.
Next, I must comment on this blog. As much as I love WordPress, there's no community like there is with Xanga. I don't think I'll be switching, but I do have a Xanga so I can keep tabs on my friends. I might redesign this blog so it has a little more relaxed look (like Xanga). We'll see what I feel like and what kind of time I have. That probably will have to wait until Christmas break at the earliest.
On the topic of webdesign, I am still waiting on graphics from my friend Dane Benton to design the SGA website. So when I finally get that stuff, that website will be going up. Also, I am the official designer of artist websites for Orangehaus Records, or at least that's the way I understand that part of my position. I also was resonsible for designing and getting out the first electronic issue of the Orangehaus SPIN, our newsletter. You can read it here. So yay...pat me on the back. Gosh, that sounded conceited. Sorry. I guess I'm just keeping you informed of what I've been up to.
Another fun thing about my life is that I've been reading through Blue Like Jazz by Don Miller. Every Tuesday morning at the slightly ungodly hour of 7am, Doug Irving (my adopt-a-parent at my Anderson church) and I have breakfast at Panera. We talk about life and the book and pray with each other. So far it's been a rewarding time. I feel like I've learned and grown a lot through this time with Doug. I've also discovered I love Panera's dark and vibrant coffee. You should try it sometime.
Hm...what else? Oh, I've been working a bit on helping a friend named Jeff Owen design his cd cover. He seemed to like one of my ideas should the colors be modified, so we'll see. By the way, in addition to doing his own singer/songwriter thing, he plays bass for Joy Williams. Two of my other friends (sort of...one's more of an acquaintance, and the other is somewhere in-between) also play for Joy. Dylan Williams plays lead guitar, and Darren Rayl plays drums. The latter two have played for Jon McLaughlin in the past, and I believe Dylan still does when Jon wants a guitar player.
Next topic: my "free" iPod. Well, it technically will be free, assuming I get it. Any money I've paid hasn't been directly for the iPod. It's more because I wasn't careful when picking an offer to complete and because I bribed a few people to do offers. Anyway, having gotten my 5 referrals, it is now currently in the verification stage wherein the company makes sure all my referrals are legitimate. It says to wait 7-10 days (I'm pretty sure it said 5-7 when I first requested verification), but I feel like it's been that long or longer. So I continue to wait... I'll keep you updated.
Finally, I have some great new friends this semester. Among these are Kalyn Yocum, Megan McDaniel, Mindy Parsons, Chelsea Travis, Joe Balbaugh, Glen Lovitt, Antoine Brown (who, in combination with me, makes up "Mantoine"), Nate Heironimous, Phil Larson, and many others. The first few are new to AU, and the others have been here, but I've just gotten to know them a lot better this semester. Still no woman for me, though.
Thus ends what I believe to be my longest post ever. I am out.
Verbosely yours,
Matt
Pictures
So I wish I had a digital camera. If I did, I could put cool pictures up here for you to see. But I can't. Also, Facebook has sweet photo album capabilities now, so it would be amazing to share my photos with the world (well, at least my facebook friends). Heck, my MySpace friends would love it too. But I can't do anything about that. THEREFORE...I say you should click the PayPal Donate button (down the page on the left side) and send me some lovin' in the form of money. This would directly benefit you because you could then enjoy numerous pictures I'd post with the digital camera you funded. Ok, that is all for now. I will be checking my PayPal account in the next few days.
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
R.I.P. Praise Gaithering
Well folks, it's over. After a good number of years, Praise Gathering is no longer. Let us now observe a moment of silence in honor of the timeless legacy that was Praise Gathering, affectionately known to many as "Praise Gaithering." ... ... ... Ok, that's enough. I am indeed sad that it's over, so don't take all of the dialogue you've just read in jest.
On a completely different note, I just got my final referral approved on freeipods.com. Now all I have to do is wait 5-7 days for them to verify all 5 referrals. If they all pass, then I can order my iPod. It's at that time that the people to whom I've promised a sum of money (aka bribed) will be getting their reward. Yes, you heard it right: I haven't forgotten you faithful friends.
More later...time to do homework and hit the sack. I've got my weekly early-morning breakfast with Doug Irving tomorrow.
Matt
I’m Kilroy!
Sorry for the random post title. I couldn't think of anything else. With 80s Encore in the not-so-distant past, those sorts of things stick with me. Anyway, I'm currently listening to some 80s Michael W. Smith...yeah Smitty! Anywho...that was awkward... Ok, on to why you're really here. Actually, it would be more like on to why I'm really here. This post is by request of my former roommate, Mr. Jon Mobley, host of Late Night with Jon Mobley, a new show here on the AU campus. It's quality, and I play in it when I can. So come if you're on campus Wednesday nights at 10pm. If you're not on campus, it's worth flying in and renting a car just to come. No joke. Anyway, enough commercials. What's been going on with me? We'll just say a lot. After getting back from a great time in Florida, I had one day of classes then Homecoming weekend, which basically meant I spent all of Friday night and Saturday on Encore stuff. In my opinion, it was a great show (especially the 10:00), but you can make your own judgement. My parents were down for two different weekends recently, homecoming being one of them, and they were able to see the show. I love them. Oh, and if you think about it, pray for my Dad as he's between jobs. He's waiting to hear back on one, so hopefully that will work out. Ok, back to the Strong's Exhaustive Update on my life since my last blog entry (that was for you Bible buffs). Well, I had a busy week of doing homework, playing for chapel, teaching Melissa how to play Mary Had A Little Lamb and Amazing Grace, taking recording tech quizzes, working on my recording tech projects, getting up for two early-morning breakfasts, and playing in church. Luckily there was a phenomenon called Fall Break. Give it up for the three-day weekend! I didn't do very much except a little laundry and reformatting my hard drive and restoring my system. Oh, and I found out Logic Pro won't run on my system, so I have to pick out a new DAW to purchase. I guess it's either Cubase or Digital Performer. Well, I do take donations, so if I could buy a new G5, I'd be able to run Logic Pro and create beautiful music for the masses to enjoy. Man, I wish rich people were reading this. Ok, I think it's time to get back to the homework. I know I need to be a more faithful blogger, so I'll do my best to keep you informed. I love you all. Goodnight.
Matt, aka Matthew, aka Matty, aka Melonhead, aka Mellonhead, aka Melonfoot
Mighty Mouse
AWESOME!! CHECK THIS OUT. I WANT ONE!!
(CLICK THE PIC)
Click the Paypal Donate button toward the bottom of the left sidebar to help me out.
I’m Back!!
About time, huh? Well, I've been waiting for someone to actually pay attention to my previous post. A few people have, but only one person's offer has gone through, so I'm still waiting. Oh well. On to bigger and better things, namely a pair of these: 
In case you don't know what this means, I'll tell you. It means I'm one step closer to having my own studio. I've also purchased a pro mobile audio interface for use with my powerbook. But enough with the technical jargon. It's going to be sweet. Hopefully I'll be able to post up some beautiful music this semester, or at least this year. Keep your eyes open, and whilst you're doing that, I'll slip off to bed. I've gotta sing in church tomorrow morning, so I need my beauty sleep (like that's going to help, right?).
~Matty~
Want $10 From Me? (Updated)
I know you do...
Here's the deal. I'm getting sick of waiting for people to do offers on my Free iPods thingy. I had 4 of the 5 required referrals, but one just fell through. So now I need 2 more. The next 2 people who complete an offer to help me get my iPod will receive a $10 check from yours truly. CLICK HERE to help me out and earn your $10 check. This thing (both freeipods.com and my $10 offer) is legit, and a number of offers cost you no money at all (i.e. a credit card...just cut it up as soon as you get it). An extra $10 in the gas tank would get you farther than you could go before. It could also mean you'd only have to spend a few dollars of your own money on the latest and greatest newly released cd from your favorite artist or the newest DVD. Or it would get you a movie ticket and some amount of refreshments. Think about it...10 bucks. Not to mention you'd be on your way to a free iPod. Please help me.
A few notes:
1. If you've signed up with my link but have not completed an offer (Kristen), you're still eligible for the $10 if you complete an offer.
2. If you've signed up on freeipods.com NOT with my link, it's not worth trying. You're not allowed multiple accounts, and will thereby negate both of your accounts.
3. I will send the checks upon learning from the company that I will indeed be receiving my iPod.
That's it for now. I just want to be able to take my music with me, so help a brotha' out.
Matt
CELEBRATE!! This was my 100th post! Go celebrate here.
UPDATE (7/8/05): 1 person has responded to the call and has earned herself $10. Will you be the other?