Various updates and random contents of my brain

Watching footage of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is eerily reminiscent of footage of the aftermath of the tsunami in December. I know Hurricane Katrina is on a much smaller scale, but that doesn't matter much to those who've lost loved ones, had their homes destroyed, and seen their livelihoods washed away. I hope they all get the help they need, and that they get it soon.

Work has been extremely busy lately. So much so that no matter how much I get done in a day, I leave feeling anxious because of the piles of other things that didn't get done. I hate that feeling. I must remember that it's only my day job. And there's a three day weekend coming up.

My next piece, a longer work for large chamber ensemble, is not coming along as quickly or as easily as the trio did. This wouldn't be such a big deal if I wasn't under pressure to get so much stuff done for my reapplication to grad school in January. At least it's going steadily, if not quickly.

Speaking of grad school, I finally got some feedback from the head of the composition department at UMKC. He had a lot of illuminating and helpful things to say. However, he focused more on critquing the pieces I submitted for my previous application rather than giving instruction on what to submit to improve my application for next time. I can figure it out through extrapolation, but it does give me the idea that perhaps UMKC is not as interested in me as Oregon. I will reapply nonetheless.

When I first read about Snakes on a Plane this morning, I admit to only finding it mildly amusing. The real humor did not strike me until later in the day, when I had conversations with Other Kenjari and epilimnion about it. Hilarity ensued.