Blogging effectively is tough for me. Maybe that's why I haven't attempted it in a while. Honestly, I'm not convinced anyone really cares about the chronicle of my life anyway. Plus, I'd rather experience life with people than tell them about it on my blog. That being said, I would like to come up with a purpose for this blog, rather than it just being a "here's what I did today." I suppose I could review music, but honestly I don't get new stuff very often. I could share pictures, but normally that requires a camera. I could share interesting articles, links, and tidbits that I find on the web, but that sort of thing is better suited to Twitter or Tumblr, both of which I have. Am I at a loss for ideas? So far, yes. Now's where you leave me a comment with your ideas for a purpose for this blog. Go!

CLICK HERE

These people are from Westboro Baptist Church. I am sad that I even had to type that URL, but I wanted to share it with you. Click around on the site, and you'll find more and more outrageous claims. Man, that saddens me.

On a lighter note, I want to work at Google:

CLICK HERE

That is all.

virb.com/mattulrich
virb.com/melonhead616

I don't really feel like getting into all the reasons why Virb is better than MySpace, but a few include: looks cooler, much more streamlined (doesn't slow down my browser nearly as much), way fewer and less annoying ads, much more customizable and more easily so, etc and etc.

Ok, that's it. I just wanted to share. Bye now.

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

Matt

Matt!

Happy listening!

Matt

Sleepy I Am,
Yoda

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.

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

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

Matt

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?

Oh, and the answer is yes, I am single. So if you're a 10 too, let me know.

Update: I took another one. It seems to reaffirm what I learned in the previous one, so for all of you who don't think I'm hot, you're wrong.

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

Matt

P.S. Don't worry Mom...I got the education price, so I paid quite a bit less than $129.

Click here

Click here

Click here

Click Here

Technologically yours,
Matt

UPDATE (2/19/2005): The contact page is back! Now it is a popup window. In order to use it, you must either have popups disabled in your browser, or you must change your popup settings to allow popups from this site.

I look forward to hearing from all of you, my faithful readers, and I know it may take weeks for me to sort through all the fan mail I'll be getting, but I'll do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.

Humbly yours,
Matt

P.S. Sorry this wasn't much of a blog entry. I guess I'd call it more of an announcement.

Welcome to ALL THAT JAZZ!!

Matt

Matt

Well, it's time for bed. I need to get some good shut-eye before the 4-hour trip back to Anderson. Falling asleep on the ride back is not acceptable, especially since I'm driving and there's no passenger to keep me awake. Only David Phelps and a few others in my cd player.

See you in Anderson.

Matt

Check back often for updates.

Matt

Matt

Matt

Matt

W Ketchup

"Matt"