Nightmare Before Christmas

So we had our Christmas spectacular this week, and here are the pics to prove it:
Ben and Jamie got me a cool trucker hat, wristbands, and...sideburns? Who do they think I am, Ambrose Burnside?
My patented awkward candid shots. Is mom asleep or just disappointed?
Bad-ass. If only I played tennis...Nah, not worth it.

Review of the Concert

A Bowdoin professor emailed me this review of the November 10th concert, and it seems like everyone just had an awesome time. As for my plans during the rest of my vacation, they include working on my Research in Music final project, and perfecting my Broccoli Casserole recipe for Thursday. All the old high school buddies should be popping in pretty soon as well, and I can't wait to see everybody. It's gonna be really weird heading back to Indianapolis on Monday morning, but it will also be nice to focus on my work again.

Portland Press Herald's Review

Ok, one more quick thing. I noticed I hadn't included any pictures in a while, but Eben sent us this picture of an LOLcat from icanhascheezburger.com

I've seen better, but still nice. Gabe was similarly not impressed, and thought he could do something better with a little Photoshop Magic. We originally only planned to spend a couple minutes on it, but it turned into quite a masterpiece. Here's our final version:


So, what do you think? Notice all the shadows? How beautiful is that pylon? Take that Ebenezer

Living the dream

So yeah, it's been a while, my cousin got married, the Red Sox won the world series, and the Patriots squeaked out a win against an apparently better team that reminded me of the San Diego game in last year's playoffs, but the main reason I'm writing this is because of my weekend at Bowdoin. They commissioned a piece from me, my "Partita for Solo Orchestra" which I worked on all summer, and it was finally performed by the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, an insanely talented and wonderful ensemble that made Saturday's concert unforgettable. It was an honor just to be included amongst the other alumni and professors, but the experience itself couldn't have been any better. Plus, back at Butler they happened to be performing another piece of mine, entitled "Marimbecile," and it sounds like that concert also went well really. So now I'm basking in the Boston glow, hanging out until Thanksgiving, and still thinking about how beautiful this weekend was. I could get used to this.

Bowdoin Website article
Bowdoin Orient article

Pure ecstasy

Since the ALDS is being televised on TBS, as opposed to FOX, I've been forced to venture out into bars to watch the Red Sox, and so far so good. There's a cool area around 52nd and College Ave with a few options, and it's only a mile and a half bike ride. For Wednesday's game I tried the Red Key Tavern, which was ok. $3 for a bottle of PBR made me a tad hesitant, but the food was good and cheap. Last night I gave the Aristocrat Bar a chance, and it definitely reminded me of Boston, especially a Beacon Hill pub. Unfortunately they kicked me and another sport aficionado out around the 7th or 8th inning, apparently all the workers just wanted to go home. Lazy bastards. Luckily the Red Key was still open, so I got one last PBR and watched the end of the game. You pretty much know the rest. As for the bike ride home, I'll just leave you with some simple advice: save the euphoric phone calls for before or after the bike ride home, not during. I learned that the hard way, believe me.

What a trip

I know it's been quite some time, and I wish I could defend myself by saying I've been really busy, but the truth is, I got into a really good groove working on my music and just cruising through the weeks. But, my Bowdoin roommate Zaq came to visit this Monday, and just left. We had a great time, and it feels like he was here for much longer(in a good way, I promise).
We went to Bloomington, home of Indiana University, a nice college town, to see this group called Yeasayer (http://www.myspace.com/yeasayer), because Zaq knew a couple of the bandmembers from his high school in Baltimore. Later we made the trip to Chicago, to see my good friend Ross, and of course a Cubs game, which was unreal. The stadium was gorgeous and packed, it felt like a playoff game. Our seats were incredible, even though we thought we'd miss the game because we took the bus all the way from the Southside where Ross lives, right near US Cellular Field, but we barely made it. You have to go to a game there some time in your life, it definitely competes with Camden Yards in Baltimore as one of the most beautiful baseball parks in the country. We also decided we're going to move there in a year or two, but that's not important. We came back to Indianapolis, and tried to calm down from all the excitement by seeing Superbad, which was a nice retreat. Now I gotta get back to work, but here are some of the best views I could grab:
Clearly Alfonso Soriano at bat, totally on my fantasy team

Just to keep you updated, we went to an Indianapolis Indians game Friday night, which was great until it got rained out. The stadium is really open, as we sat on the outfield lawn.



And here's my new bike.



And of course, my new phone. What have I become.

So it begins

Classes start Monday, so I haven't been doing much. Well, anything, really. But tonight we're going to a free Indianapolis Indians game, and tomorrow is the yearly music faculty vs. grad students softball game, which should be exciting. Here are some photos of the apartment, although it is clearly far from finished.






Ain't she a beauty?

Well, there it is

My insane day in the city proved rather fruitful, as I got a cell phone and started my Chase bank account. Finding a bike is a work in progress, but I have faith. My roommate Josh ordered us internet, which will be set up in a week, so that's good. I'll try to email my phone number to everyone, but I also plan on making thousands of calls at exactly 9PM when my free minutes start. More pictures are coming, no worries. Now all I need are groceries...

All in due time...

Tomorrow I'm taking my chances on the bus because everything I need is downtown, so hopefully that will take care of things like a cellphone, a bike, groceries, a dresser, whateva. For now, here's my address:

Adam Cohen-Leadholm
4625 Hinesley Ave
Apt B8
Indianapolis, IN
46208

Wish me luck tomorrow, for I may never return.

Settling In

Well, the journey is over, and I've spent my first night in the apartment. Ross came down from Chicago for the night, and Dean's flight was this morning, so we had a little party in the room last night. We got to hang out with my roommate Josh, play some Wii, and have a generally awesome time. It turns out Ross doesn't have a "job" in Chicago yet, but he and his friend invested in a small recording studio downtown, which they now own 1/3 of and are helping to fix up and get ready for some new talent. Yesterday Dean and I picked up a futon from Walmart, so at least I had something to sleep on, aka pass out on last night. The apartment seems great. Maybe I could use a dresser or bookshelf, but I'll buy that junk used one of these days. I also need to look into getting a cellphone. No rush.

WE MADE IT

I don't know how, but we made it. For real. The long trip is over. Here's the proof:

Lunch in Cleveland, had to see some of the sites, like Sektor doing his rocket punch (Mortal Kombat reference)

In some weird arcade/food court/mall inside the Marriot Hotel.

Trying to sneak a peak at Jacob's Field.


The hand of God returns, urging us to continue.

We found a great spot at the motel, which we assumed was reserved for the manager, but nay, it's for the employee of the month. Maybe next time.

Day 1: Done

Oh man, we made it! We just got into Buffalo, and everything's going great. Here are some pictures to prove it.
Dean's a great packer, nicely done.

Lunch in Albany, very nice.

Weird. Enormous bathtub, or spaceship?

The light of God beckons past the clouds.

And here we are. Dean peruses the escort services, while I admire my new shoes.
We're off to the anchor bar, where buffalo wings were invented, and then tomorrow: Indianapolis! Insane!

Some Last Thoughts

Since tomorrow I pick up the rental SUV, I thought I should add some more pictures to further prepare you for my apartment. Here's what I've received from my soon-to-be roommate, Josh.

Looks nice from the outside.

Classy kitchen.

And there he is, in orange. It's gonna be an adventure, for sure.

Goodbye, New York

This was my last night in New York City, and it was pretty wonderful. Dinner with the folks, hanging with Bowdoin friends, lunch at Chipotle, I mean, it doesn't get much better than that.

And this is Rodeo. He's the most beautiful creature in the world. But he has a penchant for peeing on beds, and I'm not sure if I can forgive him just yet.

The Final Week

So I'm in New York City, saying goodbye to my momma and other college friends who have already sold their souls to the devil. It will also be my last chance to devour a Chipotle burrito in quite some time. I'm not sure which I'm going to miss more.
The plan is to pick up the SUV this Thursday at 5PM, pack it up that night, and leave Friday morning. Dean and I will stay in a motel Friday night about halfway along our trip, perhaps near Buffalo, NY. Then Saturday we'll drive to Indianapolis, and spend the night at a motel just outside the city. That way we can move all my stuff into the apartment Sunday morning, I can take my diagnostic tests, and then I'll drive Dean to the airport Monday morning before I return the car.
So many things can and will go wrong, it's nice to keep things simple and play it by ear.