I got to believe it's getting better...all the time.

Ripping off some lyrics of one of my favourite Beatles songs, Getting Better. That is my theme for the week. I'm finally starting to feel better. It's been a long month of being sick, and I don't wish this on anyone.

So, I scanned and emailed my handwritten quiz essay to Dr. Dave, as he likes to be called. 5 pages of handwritten ANYTHING I can remember about the Native American music we studied the week before. He was very cool about my getting this quiz to him this way, because on Wednesday I couldn't find his office at the school. I found myself transported in time to when I was a kid and somewhat shy and didn't ask ANYONE where the Humanities office was. After all, I've been in school, what..a month? Shouldn't I know where EVERYTHING is by now? I barely know what's in the school library. I'm going to though in a hurry, because the more I think about it, the more obvious it is that our final presentation and paper will take a good solid month of preparation, if not more.

So, this past week's quiz was about Native American music, specifically three different topics: The Sioux Grass Dance - which is what most people call a war dance. You've seen them, but you likely didn't know what it was called.



Then about two Navajo songs: Yeibichai songs and the Shizhane e songs. They're both from purification rituals, and it's likely a non Native American (or First Nation for you Canadians) would not have known about these.

Yeibichai


The Yeibichai songs are part of a sacred ceremony called The Nightway and the Shizhane e or Circle Dance songs are part of a purification ceremony called The Enemyway. The ceremony is performed for Navajo who have been away so long that they are invaded with non-Navajo spirits. Navajos who have been in hospital or returning from the Armed Services are a simple example of those the Enemyway is performed for You've probably heard this song below. There are parts of an Enemyway song in it. This is Sacred Spirit - Yeha Noha




This is all really fascinating stuff, and I find myself completely enthralled with my textbook...that is when my kids allow me the peace and quiet to read, take notes and absorb. That's why I mentioned how Starbucks has become my home away from home. I never took seriously the people who consider Starbucks their personal space with a barrista, but the people who work there actually embrace it. A week ago Sunday there was a period of time where I was the only person in there, and I wondered if I was just taking up space. I did buy a cup of tea there, but just one while I was reading for my first quiz. They emphatically told me I can stay as long as I wanted: I was a customer. Holy Sumatra, Batman. That was very nice.

So...I'm addicted to Starbuck's now.

Going back to my reading now. Monday's quiz will be about South America. The music I've been listening to is beautiful. I'll find some video examples of what I'm studying right now.

Okay...back to work. ALL OF YOU!!!

Don't worry.... that cough will go away in a few days

So, I didn't go to school yesterday. Before anyone accuses me of being a truant or not studying for a test (I did miss one), I'm still not feeling better. A few weeks ago I referenced a cold that turned into bronchitis. I started feeling better but then last week, I had a relapse and caught strep from my daughter. She's doing fine, thank you, but her old man has been contagious and just feeling like warm dog food. Hopefully now I'm not contagious, but I didn't want to risk it in class.

I asked for and received permission not to come to class. Dr. Hunter's simple answer to my email was that it makes no sense to infect the class. Long story short, I get a chance to re take my test. I'm really trying not to look at my notes and I have the 5 page essay about half way done. When I'm done with this post, I'll finish my test. I really want to learn something, and I'm proud that I've not looked at my book. This quiz will probably kill me grade-wise, but I am doing this as much for the experience as I am for the eventual degree.

So, another interesting thing that has played out over the last two weeks is that I now have an in class friend. He's a very interesting kid. Man, I shouldn't say that, I don't care how much younger he is. Let me rephrase that. He's a really interesting guy. He's a musician too. He emailed me some music he has been working on, and it's really very good. He has a nice advantage now compared to the time I was his age (You can picture me on the rocking chair as I'm saying that, can't you?), he has a studio on his computer that is light years more state of the art than even the most professional studio back when I was a professional. I wish him well. He's a great guy and his music is very good. It has an 80's fun vibe, but still sounds fresh. I hope he goes far.

At any rate he and I swapped emails today and he let me have notes from today's class. Once this Native American test is done, it's bang, straight into 9 songs and 50 pages of reading on the music and culture of South America.
This is going to be a very intense week.