Putting it all together

WEDNESDAY: I've been spending a lot of time lately "setting things up". I've been researching boxing gyms, emailing the stage combat club, calling up Irish pubs to find sessions. So basically right now I'm doing all the prep work for all of the things I'm going to do in the future, thus I don't have as much time right now to actually do things. However, I will do my best to recap the weekend and beyond.

Saturday night I went to see some twenties-style Dixieland jazz. It was the weirdest venue EVER - more kitsch on the walls than a TGI Friday's, lights blazing, and full of old people - but the music was seriously smokin' and I had a great time. After that I went to this old abandoned building wherein are housed multiple different clubs, in addition to lots of graffiti and art studios (mostly in use during the day). Anna and I ended up forgoing the cool kid clubs with the cool kid music and headed up to the very top floor where they were playing a mix of ska, oldies remixes, rock n roll, and jazz, and we just danced like no one was watching. It was a pretty cool place and I definitely plan on going back.

Sunday, went to a flea market where I bought a couple old jazz and blues records - turns out I have a record player in my room (did I already mention that? whatever), so I'm gonna buy up a lot just for fun. The rest of that day was REST because my God have I been tired lately. Monday was pretty chill, did some drumming in the park by my house, and Tuesday I made a Shepherd's pie. Tonight a couple friends and I went to part of a German film festival, which was very cool, and literally a three minute walk from my house - definitely plan on going back for one of the other days - and then left for the Turkish Quarter (Kreuzberg) for an "International Party" on a boat, sponsored by the University's International Club. It was free, so that was nice, and we met some nice kids (who each spoke at least four languages, I felt like an idiot), but unfortunately what we thought would be an opportunity to speak some German turned out to be an English language party! WTF. The saving grace, and the most hilarious thing I could imagine, was the fact that the live band was a hardcore trad country rockabilly band from Tennessee! Pompadours and all. Apparently there's a good rockabilly scene in Berlin, according to the bassist, so I'm planning on checking that out. We didn't stay long, because country music makes Anna's French head hurt, but all in all it was a good night.

Things are getting better, I think, knock on wood. Been speaking a little more German and feeling a little more confident about it. I'm stressing out about which courses to take at the university, etc, because it's INCREDIBLY confusing, but I'm sure it will all be sorted out soon and I can stop worrying. I also can't wait for things to settle down and get figured out so I can start doing all the things I'm setting up to do. More on that as it comes.