Monday, January 31, 2011

A Beginning. Why?

Well, I've jumped into the world of blogging. Why? I'm glad you asked! Let me explain:

It's been one heck of year, to say the least, that came to a front in one week that I will never forget. Back in August, I could see it all coming. I was getting ready to graduate college (finally, after 8 years), I was getting ready to start a new career, and at any moment, I could be a new dad. Well, it all happened. . . within about 8 days of each other.

On August 8, 2010, I finally got my BA in Music from Sam Houston State University in the grand ol' city of Huntsville, TX. Mixed with putting about 55 musicals on my resume, getting married, and doing everything I can to put a little money in the bank, the bachelor's degree took a solid 8 years. I don't regret a thing about it. By playing for up to 25 voice lessons a week for the music theatre majors, I made some great friendships that will surely last me a life time, not to mention meeting beautiful blond, sometimes red-head, sometime brunette, Blythe Herring (now 'Kirkwood' of course!).

Two days later, on August 10, 2010, Blythe and I welcomed our son, Carter Alan Kirkwood, to this crazy world. Blythe was in labor for what seemed like an eternity. We went to the hospital about 4:30 in the morning and ended up not getting to see our little boy's face until about 8 o'clock that night. . . LONG DAY! Carter is now 5 & 1/2 months old and makes me smile more and more every day.

Finally, on August 16, 2010, I reported to Goodson Middle School in the Cy-Fair school district for the first day of my new career as an assistant choir director! Believe it or not, this is what I've always pictured myself doing. Over the last 10 years, I've played the piano and/or music directed over 60 shows, but I always wanted to be a choir director. I am intensely passionate about teaching music to people of all ages. In the theatre, I get to work with professional musicians and professional singers who have studied music for a long time and get the same joy that I do out of performing for an audience. But, everyday in school, I get to try to find some way to inspire 300 junior high students to pursue something that they can be passionate about. Whether that 'something' is music or not doesn't matter to me. I want all of my students to find something positive to live for, and if a deeper appreciation for music can inspire them to be a greater person, then I've met my goal. (Wow, that sounds uber-dramatic) :)

"So, Luke. . . . Why do a blog? No one cares!"

Why not? Obviously, since you've read this far, you are somewhat interested in what I have to say! Ever since I was young, I've enjoyed writing my own thoughts down. There's something fun about writing something and wondering who, if anybody, will ever read it. This last summer in college, I would just free-write in my note book while I was supposed to be taking notes in my Kinesiology class. The thing about this free-writing is that it really became an everyday thing that for 30 minutes or so, I would just write everything that came into my head. Things like; "Why are you still talking?" "Why would you say that?" "I have to pass tomorrow's test!" "I wish I were at home right now!" I took up half of my binder with stuff like this. But the fun of it came at the end of the summer, after the class was over, I went back and read all of this rambling, and had a pretty good laugh at it as these words on a page would make me remember specific thoughts that I'd had.

I get this same sort of enjoyment out of reading my old Facebook status updates sometimes. When is the last time you read all of the silly status updates that you posted about a year ago? Try it! You'll be surprised at how much you smile!

So . . . finally down the short answer of the "why" question. I've always used my status updates on Facebook like a very short, daily blog, but I've always wanted to put more. Two problems with wanting to put more. 1)Facebook status updates can only be about 200 characters, and 2)If someone really wants to hear more of my thoughts and ramblings, I shouldn't slam it in their face every time they check their Facebook friend's updates. Instead, give them somewhere else to find it!

With that said, Welcome to my blog, "Life: A Bit of Everything"! I will posts things as often as I can. These posts may be very short, or very long. Who knows! The topics of my posts will be pretty random, but in general you can think of them as extended status updates, since Facebook is where I will be trying to recruit followers. This means that I will be covering the big things in my life: Blythe, Carter, the day job, shows, sports, and occasional dorky video game stuff.

Again, I will be writing like I am the only one who will be reading, but I hope you will occasionally read too. Feel free to comment anytime, and "follow" if you dare!!

I'll need a more creative sign off, but for now I'll simply say: Peace Out!

Luke