the soothing sounds of music made by my own hands
I'm sure something that title can be read to mean something more base, but give me a break; I typed it out in less than ten seconds.

If you're not already aware, I started working at Northrop Grumman in El Segundo last month. It's tough--getting up early every morning, that is. I am a morning person; that is, I derive mental and, I suppose, spiritual energy from the sunrise and the crisp morning air. But that doesn't mean I particularly enjoy getting up early or that I am especially productive in the morning. I just feel better in the morning than I do in the afternoon.

Anyway, the point is that I'm starting to adjust to the routine. And since I got my Casio Privia, I think I've learned something essential about myself: playing the piano calms my nerves. Over the winter break, I neglected to play; I was busy shooting people up and then reviving them in Battlefield. I found, by the end, that I was extremely agitated every evening. I couldn't sit still. I felt as if I was in some sort of funk or depressed state. On a whim, the other day, I decided to play the piano before commencing with the pre-sleep checks. And I mean really play--not simply to get some practice in, but to get into the "feeling" of playing. You wouldn't believe how much better I felt afterward. It was one of those cathartic moments that seem so elusive.

I suppose you might wonder whether merely listening to music would achieve the same effect. I would say it does not. It will either have no effect at all or get me jazzed up about something; that is, it has the opposite effect. To be fair, though, I haven't exactly "tested" this. But consider this: I typically use music to help keep me awake and focused (for homework and, more recently, at work).

That said, enjoy this piece of artistry I found the other day:


That, my friends, is multi-talented.