Day 17: The Prodigal Son Returns: The Journey Back to Jersey

Today is my day at Putney.

It’s to say that I’m leaving, but it must happen.

Although I didn’t have to do AM Barn today I chose to finish of the week with them.

I was able to say goodbye to all my cows and calves.

Then I went back to my dorm and slept.

I awoke a few hours later and got all my things together and brought out.

I then packed up my guitar gear then headed toward brunch.

There I said goodbye to many of the students.

Then Kat Brown found me and soon after we left Putney and headed for Green Field.

There in Green Field we met up with Pablo and his Mom and thus started our journey back to Jersey.

Along the way there the traffic picked up, and we even had a flat.

It took a total of about 7 hours to get back. However, it was fun.

We talked on various topics and used my 3-string to make a song out of our misfortunes.

It was a good road trip.

BYE PUTNEY THANKS FOR MEMORIES

Thanks to: Ann-Marie and Kat Brown

The entire student body

My Keep dorm: my roommates and Dorm Parents

The AM barn crew

The Two-day exchange band with Isaiah, Francesco, and Shames

The Asian Persuasion band with Juno  

All my teachers: Lou, Kat, James and Lorne

Dalton for waking me up every day for AM barn

Carriel, Romi, and Zoey for looking after me when I first got there and being my first friends

Last, all you guys back home giving all the support to my blog.

Special thanks to:

Dr. Lanang

Fr. Al

Fr. Ed

And thus ends this New Chapter, However…

My story doesn’t start here nor will it end either.

Till we meet again…

    -Dakota Gibbs

Day 16: Chapter 5: Putney Social

 

Today Is my last Day of Classes. Yes, there is still classes on Saturday.

I only had English 10 and Comp. Religions.

In English we all got into groups and made reading guides for their last book: Things Fall Apart. I just went on sparknotes and helped with the questions.

However there is one last creative writing paper that is due next saturday. I will actually write it and email it to them, and continue with that art of class for a bit.  We may even skype a bit when they are analyzing my paper.

Its going to be a fairy tale  and philosophy story, the character’s name comes from everyon’s name in my class.

AFTER CLASSES

After lunch on Saturdays there are no more classes and you are allowed to do whatever you want.

I later spent some time with the same senior girls again in their dorm. Repeating history.

Then I went back to my dorm and got ready for the social tonight.

After I got my clothes ready, took a shower, then put the clothes on; all that is left is find a pair of shades.

After 20 minutes of trying to find anyone who can lend their shades, Someone in my dorm lent me his Ray Bans!

Then I went off to cabin to meet up with my date and our group.

There in cabin we wait for the other couple to arrive, then when they came we headed toward dinner.

During dinner we just had fun and played around a lot. We doodled all over the table took crazy pictures, and played bingo.

We didn’t win, however the meal of the night was steak, so for me that was a win!

We even played dice a bit. I blow on my dice then asked for my date to do the same. I rolled and got double 5. I won on top of that!

Later we hit the dance floor!

There was a live band and everything. I dance with my date a few times then we split  off and danced with others as well.

That night i danced with several other girls. It was all swing tunes and dancing, however, they played Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison.

The girl I danced with during that song was also a huge classic rock fan and we both fangirled over it while we danced.

At the end of the night I walked back down to my dorm and looked at the stars again, funny that same night we had a movie night and we picked out Star Wars episode I.

It was an awesome night but i better get some sleep my last day of AM barn is tomorrow.

Day 15: The Last Friday

Today In AM was the worst! I got sawdust in my eyes and it was extremely irritating. It almost took me the entire time just to get it out. However i was able to get it out, luckily.

CLASSES

This was my last Chemistry class, and we started electronic chemistry. Oxidation and Reduction.

We worked on Balancing and thanks to D-lang I need my periodic table so well that i never had to look at one or figure out the charges and names of Elements and Polyatomics. Along with that i was the only one who knew all seven diatomic elements.

My Chemistry teacher said that she even wanted to meet D-lang because I did so well.  

EARLY GOODBYE

During I assembly I kind of took it over and formally thanked the entire school for this experience because this would be my last time to address the entire school.

I also gave out a few shout outs to nearly all the people who help make my time there a great one.

I rallied them a bit, but it was awesome.

SWING DANCING?

During assembly we all learned how to swing dance because of the swing social this saturday.

It was pretty Fun actually. We were taught proper dance etiquette, along with a few swing dances. I dance with three people while learning because we switched partners every new dance.  

AFTER CLASSES

At Frisbee we just practice a lot of drills, and in the end they let me keep one of their frisbees.

Since all my evenings and afternoons activities are done, I actually had time for my self. What did I do with that time? My favorite thing in the world of course: SLEEP.

My roommate woke me up for dinner.

At dinner I was asked to social. I said yes, because why not, might as well have some fun before I leave.

After dinner i went to the jam room and played a bit with Rolan, keyboardist,  and Isaiah, bassist.

LATER THAT NIGHT

Then I went down back to my dorm and made myself some spicy noodles, and the Student dorm head gave me some of his really great tasting tea. Then I streamed my Favorite Disney Movie, Lion King.

It was a great night.

Day 14: Be Aware When Jamming with Dakota

Today was to first time I was late to barn. Dalton, the guy who wakes me up, had a day off from AM Barn and gave to task of waking me up to Henry. Henry did, however, my body said “lol no” and  I KOed. Then I got up, looked at the time, realized I was late and run to barn!

When I finally arrived to barn, I kind of creeped in, and stood in the middle acting non suspicious. n the first five seconds, my barn head already found me. Luckily she just smiled and said nothing.

I thought I got off scotch free, However at the end of barm as I was leaving, Sofi, my barn head, just said “Hey, Dakota, don’t be late next time, it doesn’t matter but yea get here on time.” I was so close.

CLASSES

Today in Comp. Religions There were more Catholicism, and we worked on the story of the Good Samaritan, and the teacher and another student got into a stupid argument, but it exacerbated, to the point of yelling.

I was apparently in the middle of the war zone. I decided to not get involved so I walked over to other half the room with the senior girls and sat with them. (this is a small class of just four senior girls and one sophomore guy plus me)

I decide to go i different route and make memes of them. As they argued we just laughing our butts off on the other side of the room. I was also making lots of puns.

AFTER CLASSES

Today was last wilderness skills activity. And in “celebration of me leaving” Mike our instructor baked us fresh cookies. While he was making cookies we were building shelters, out of anything we find in the woods.

My two man group just used sticks. It was a sticky situation.

AH OH!

Hey, D-lang I got some bad news...sorry but the mac you gave me actually broke down out of nowhere. I took it to the tech office(they are gods in repairing Macs) and they couldn’t figure it out. They might have to call in back-up.

Luckily in the meantime they leant me another Mac, while hey see what they can do with the old one.

The was no Jazz tonight sadly because there was an orchestra playing several of Beethoven pieces. They were actually pretty good, but i can’t handle a full on 2+ hour concert of that stuff. So me and the TwoDay Exchange Band went into the jam room(the jazz room) and just jammed out instead.

We actually got lots of progress done, and we did a sick awesome cover of Hey Joe, that people started to come in just to listen.

I was jamming so hard that it really got really physical. I began thrashing, jumping, dance and guitar tricks, all while either playing or soloing. I then used my Wah pedal at he end to finish off an insane solo. My glasses flew off my face; didn’t even stop at all, then I kind of unstraped my guitar while playing and jammed on it like a cello, and lifted up and continued playing with one hand.

Then we ended, I dropped my guitar and started banging and running into the walls while just yelling, so that I didn’t smash my guitar. Thats how much i went in.   

They said it was just awesome and the drummer said it looked satanic.

Day 13: Whose Line is It?

Each day I thought getting up for AM Barn would get easier. I was wrong, horribly wrong. However i pushed through it and continued my work.

CLASSES

Today in Chemistry we had a base/acid pH level lab. We made a base solution, then added an indicator. Then we added an unknown acid to basic solution, to figure out the concentration through tritration.  

In the end our data was all constant and our calculations proved to be correct. I say it was a quite successful lab considering my group had a slow start.

AFTER CLASSES

Right after class, I had another lesson wit Draa. We worked more and theory applying it to soloing and to the scales I already know, allowing me to really thicken my sound and use that fretboard. I learnt how to use two keys in extension to key that I’m playing.

Since today was a half day I decided to some fun, so I watched Lion King, my favorite Disney movie.  

Then for mainly the rest of the day I just watched Whose Line is it AnyWay? I just laughed my head off all day. Everyone wondered what I was watching. When I told them what i was watching they had no clue. I just told them it’s like the best improv of all time.

They were all like to each other “he’s been laughing for like 3 hours.” But they’re wrong I’ve been laughing for more than that.

I ended the night playing on my 3-string guitar like instrument. I’m slowly on my way to mastering it!

Day 12: Out of the Comfort Zone, Now!

Today was harder to get to AM Barn. But I got there. There was a newborn Calf so I go to clean its pen, full of blood and a huge placenta. It was a bit gross but being with the calf was worth it.

CLASSES

Today in Music Intensive me and the other student was giving a small performance of what we were working on thus for in the term.

I’m actually in the same dorm with this guy, Isaiah, as well as my side project Putney Band, Two-Day Exchange. He plays many instruments like guitar, bass, piano, etc.

In my Putney Band he plays bass, and sometimes guitar. However in music intensive he is working on his piano skills, mainly to read music and sight-read. Both of which is very hard, speaking from experience.

As great as a musician as he is it is still very hard for him to sight read especially in time, but he did all right and was able to do it.

Then came my turn.

First I showed them what I worked on with Draa, the scales and what not. Then I plugged in my phone and played along with the cover song I learnt while in this class.

Lastly I preformed my song, which I somewhat finished.

I preformed it and sang the lyrics, along with the disclaimer that I can’t sing. However they didn’t mind.

Isaiah really liked the chords I used, and James, the Music Director, liked it as well, his only criticism was that the rhythm sometimes gets messed up, and he says it’s probably because you’re singing and play. He was right, too.

AFTER CLASS

I Ultimate Frisbee again, we did another scrimmage and used different strategies to get us ready to the tournament tomorrow. I’m going however, chose not to go because I have guitar lessons at the same time as well as let someone else who wants t play and can play, be able to play.

DINNER

Tonight we had lamb, and to those who me, lamb is my favorite type of meat. For the first time here I actually went up for seconds at dinner. Boy, do I love me some lamb!

JAZZ COMBO

We jammed out tonight again, we focused on the song we worked on last week, then a song we worked on way earlier last week as well.

The Teacher gave me a mike and asked me to sing the lyrics/melody of the song. I did of course, and even did little jazz like intros to each soloist.

Our Teacher even scatted along with us.

Luckily, for the first time I was able to sleep before 11/12 PM.

DAY 11: Chapter 4: Week Two Let’s Go!

Today on my way to AM Barn I was finally able to see the sun rise through the mountains. It was a beautiful sight to see. The layer of milky rows of cloud atop of a rich trans-orange peeking through the spaces between maintains.

Today’s music intensive was very productive, was able to write a song (with lyrics) and work on some of the things Draa, the guitar teacher, thought me.

AFTER CLASS

After classes I had wilderness skills again. We went out on the trails then into the woods to where the class had made fire rings before and destroy each one and leave no trace.

But before we destroyed them, each team gave reasons why they chose that spot to make it as well as why did they make theirs in the way that they did, as in using on big flat rock to old the fire instead of using the ground, etc.

I was able to head back to my dorm and catch some sleep and wake up in time for dinner.

After dinner I jammed with Juno again as well as get some time in with my Putney Band, The Two-Day Exchange.

We’re going to play Friday and we’re going to play a three song set which includes King for a Day by Green Day and Hey Joe by Jimi Hendrix.

SONGWRITTING

This is my last songwriting session here at Putney, and I want to show them that I got something done.

I worked on and developed the lyric for the song I made earlier in music intensive. I played the chords to another person I have AM barn with as well as song writing. She loved it. Then I went off and wrote down the lyrics.

At the end we all met again and I preformed what I had so far for the teacher. He actually quite enjoyed it.

Later that night ion dorm jobs after I finished cleaning to common room; we had a special dorm snack treat.

It was Mini ice scream sandwiches, the good kind too. A great way to end the night.

Day 9: Sunday or should I Say FUNday!

Today’s AM barn was a little hard to wake up to, but I made it there. Our barn head allowed us to part take in a Sunday AM Barn Tradition: Drink the fresh milk straight from the tank. We all took a sip.

The Milk was totally different from the milk you get from the grocery store. It was naturally sweet and creamy, and that milky taste was subtle as first but later had that aftertaste of milk.

Since there were no classes and nothing to do, I did my home Sunday tradition: GO BACK TO SLEEP!

Boy, was it good. I really needed it. It’s just as draining as Benedict’s.

BRUNCH

When I finally re-awoke, I headed to brunch, I had eggs, sausage and everything bagel along with some pineapple.

Then I got a message to jam with Juno.

JAMIN’

I jammed Juno: our normal groove me on guitar, he on drums. Then we wanted to play outside so we both grabbed some acoustic guitars. And jammed outside, we listened to each other tracks. He actually has a few songs done and be believes that is track may hit the main stream this up coming summer.

We jammed until it was time for me to go to Brattleboro for a thrift Shop event.

THRIFTING IN BRATTLEBORO

Only three of us showed up, Julie, Sam and I, to this event; so Kat just took us anyway to got thrifting and hang around the town.

We went to only thrift shop that was open. We didn’t get anything however due to the prices being too high. But I was able to get this three-string sitar-sounding guitar like instrument. I was luckily able to bargain for 10% off.

We walked al around town stopping at stores along the way, slowing getting some snacks and consuming them as we go.

We stopped to eat at a Thai restaurant; we shared a mango sticky rice that tasted simply divine.

We stopped by the river and I took some really nice shots, then we met up with Kat again and we went back to the bus and then left, but not before we made last stop as a local super market.

DIVERSITY COOKOUT

Right when I came back it was time for the diversity cookout with the diversity club. We went to the house of adult who was in charge of diversity. We were fully in charge of everything.

Jonathan, a senior who I was in the same dorm with, cooked all the food, and couple of Senior girls prepared everything else.  We played some soccer and catch with the dog, Cleo.

After we finished eating we migrated inside and played Halo Reach, while trying to do the Oreo challenge. The Oreo challenge is too weird to explain it can be learned really.

Throughout the entire day I jammed in my new instrument soon to be named. It was I great way to end the week.

P.S. Happy Mother’s Day MOM!

Day 8: Chapter 3: Community Work Day

Today I still had to get up for AM.  It’s pretty had after a Friday but I got it done.

Luckily there were no classes today because it was a community workday.

WORK DAY

We all got put into groups and set off into the town, to work for money of which all income goes back into the school.

I was put into group 3, along another guy in my dorm, another junior and two senior girls.

We worked for two Putney alumni, so we got lots of good Putney stories.

Our jobs were to clear the property of small trees and weeds, so they can landscape. The thing is it was on the side of the hill that means, we must work by hand and/or with clippers.

We actually got the hang of it and we were able to get a lot of progress done. I even got so good I got the Title Dakota the Death of Sticks. I even took out a bug stump, a really prickly and thorny red small bush, along with the main root of it. I called it Death on the stick.

But the house had an amazing view and the property was beautiful as well. They even baked us fresh apple pies with farm fresh ice cream and pomegranate drinks.

MOVIE NIGHT

Later on we were all shuttled to Brattleboro to the local movie theater to see any movie we wished.

Most of us ended up just going to see Iron Man 3, which includes me.

The movie was really awesome and apparently the group of people who I was sitting with happened to be huge fangirls for Iron Man, and there was a lot of energy, commentary, and out right “Fangirl Nerdgasm.”

Afterwards we went to go get milk shakes in a near by restaurant and just walked around a bit before heading back to the bus.

Day 7: Week One Done!

Today was a fun day at AM Barn. I helped fed the teenagers today. That means pick up loose hay by hand outside and walk to the teenager’s pen outside and throw the hay into their huge feeding stall.

Two students were in the second floor of the barn where they keep all the bales of hay. They untie them and throw them out a window near the teenager pen.  Then as I go and muster up some hay Molly, decides to restock us with some hay rain. I’ve heard of big heads, dumb heads, and even potheads, but this morning I was a Hay Head.

The hay went and like somehow fused with my hair, no mater how much I pulled out there always seemed to be more, not just on the surface but actually to scalp too!

But it was still a good morning, because of the students brought us donuts, we each got one on our way out.

CLASSES

I started off with English 10. We finished Watchmen and are getting ready for our finally project.

Then I had chemistry, we did a review of our homework, and then we got prepped to do our last lab. We are going to do the it on Monday, be we just planed everything out, because with this lab we are fully on our own, no help.

While in Chemistry, I was paired in a group of three, Lee who I was I the same dorm with and Sam the guitarist I played with at Coffee House. I was the only sophomore, so I did really know many others in the classes besides these guys.

Sam saw that I was using his Blues driver, that he lost a while back, he said he didn’t mind if I want I can buy it off of him for $20, which is a great deal since it really costs $100!

During Conference Block I jammed with Juno again and we finally made the perfect groove to play for assemble, and we just rocked out for the whole time, we actually over did it because be when we stopped I was late for my next class.

Luckily my teacher doesn’t mind lateness too much, he just let it slide.

ULTERMATE FRISBEE

Today I had Frisbee practice, and this time I was prepared, I changed in to my shorts and brought some Gatorade.

We started out with a light jog, and then we did a practice to work on catching/ blocking the Frisbee when running on both offense and defense.

Later we had another scrimmage, my team won!

DINNER

I decided to eat outside, so did Molly, Ella & Bella (girls I met on the first night) and Moi a guy from my dorm that has helped me a lot.

We sat together by the steps. Ella and me talked about Green day then we moved to Pokemon, the whole group got involved, actually once I mentioned Pokemon, like three guys came up and was like “did I just hear Pokemon.”

Then it turned out That Bella and Molly are a huge Pokemon Fan, and I showed them my emulator and we all fangirled over it. 

It was pretty awesome to know I’m not the only nerd around here.

LATER THAT NIGHT

 At the end of the Night I basically just jammed out again with Rolan and Isaiah, both from my dorm. Rolan on piano, and Isaiah on Bass, we worked on our cover of King for a Day by Green Day. Me made great progress.

Can’t wait till my performances next week gotta end it with a bang!

P.S. I really want to thank you guys back at home for all your support and feedback. Keep it coming! and I give a full shout out on my last post. 

Day 6: Pizza Night!?

Today I finally shoveled poop in AM barn but it wasn’t too bad. The best part of AM barn is that, there’s a radio in the between the corridors of milking stalls, and all they play is classic rock my favorite to listen in the morning. It really gets me in the mood to get stuff done.

CLASSES

I started off with English three, we were in groups of three and one group of two, we were gathering notes and ideas for a philosophical question and use and relative themes and concepts from Watchmen the Graphic novel, philosophers, and philosophies.

I was in the group of two with another girl, Emma, we used Google docs to accumulate our thoughts and really brainstorm our ideas. We came up with many concepts and decided that our philosophical question be based on ethics and humanity, does humanity play a role in ethics? Should it?

Then I had Comp Religions again we looked at an article in the New York Times about the unknown yet awesome lives of Catholic Priests, brothers and Nuns along with all the good things that they do, while contrasting it to the normal way society mainly non Catholics perceive and criticize it.

Afterwards I had music intensive, where I had another lesson with Draa (pronounced dr-ey) the guitar teacher. We work on the modes again as well as full on music theory. He said by the end of this lesson you’ll be ready to commit a couple of homicides.

He was right it was insane yet intense, but I faced it head on, with eager. We work on how to harmonize scales and arpeggios over chord changes. For Dr. Fetcher’s pleasure we worked on a more jazzy way of harmonization, so get those solo sections ready Doc!

JAMMIN’ & JAZZ

Then during conference block I had a nice jam with a drummer named Juno. We just kept changing up on rocky grooves where I’d play a rhythm then solo and repeat and I stop and did harmonics and allowed him some awesome drum solos. This guy plays great, he never played drums before anyone at the school and he wants to make his real debut with me. We’re going to play for assembly next week.

Because it’s Thursday, I have Jazz combo again. We listened to a record and tried to play the melody of each of our instruments, then linking up with it. Then once we got the melody we each switched off in fourths. It was extremely hard but so very fun. We learning to play off of pure music, our click track was the peeps of nature in the background.

They also want me to play for assemble so we worked on a really great song to play. Thanks to Dr. Fletcher and our jazz band I will able to remember the jazz chords and play them. I was only one holding the chords for the song so it’s really good that I can play them well. Also, Doc was right a real Jazz Guitar Lead Sheet really doesn’t show any tabs at all. Luckily the chords were ones I used often so I remembered them.

PIZZA NIGHT

As I arrived at my Dorm after Jazz Combo, two student was also returning, each with a full pie of pizza. I asked what was that about, they told me that every Thursday is Pizza night were the students buy pizza and sodas from the school at a very low price. These pizzas were costumed ordered and they had really great options.

I had to walk all the way but up to the KDU (Their café/mess hall). I only wanted two slices and a soda, and a brought a soda for another student in the dorm because he allowed me to use his student account to get the pizza.

I ended up getting one Hawaiian slice (pineapple and ham) and one mushroom and onions with a Pepsi.

Day 5: Half-Day Hump Day

AM barn every morning, and today I was able to experience some of the cows first hand. I told a teenager calf out for a walk around the soccer, field. I ran with it and had some fun, and it began to really trust me and was very calm with me in the end.

CLASSES AGAIN

First up I had English 10, and I got a downloaded version of Watchmen the Graphic Novel. We talked more on the little observations and themes that were portrayed in the reading the days before.

Then I had Comp. Religions, we finish watching Grand Torino, and then talk about what we got from the film, the character development, and purely analyzing its themes and relating it to Christianity.

I only had two classes today because Wednesdays are normally half days. So with the free time I decided to write my blog post that I did do yesterday because I was so tired and get some laundry done; while catching up on some sleep in the in between time.

THE INBETWEEN TIME

I played I game of battle hack with a couple of students. It is where be stand in a circle and kick a hanky sack to each other. After the sack has touch three people it must me caught in the air. When caught you must hack, more of pelt it at the nearest person around. It you catch it before three people have touched it, then that person must face his back to the wall and everyone who is playing gets to have one chance to pelt him with the hanky sack.

THE TOWN OF PUTNEY

On Wednesdays, there is a Putney shuttle that tarries us to the town of Putney and back. So me and another student from my dorm went to the general store and just picked up a bunch of snacks. I stocked up and created my dorm stash of food to snack on the hungry times.

 GUITAR LESSON?!

Later on that day I met with Guitar teacher at Putney. And this guy can play, to be truthfully honest I think he’s better than Dr. Fetcher, My first guitar teacher, and me combined.

I gave me full freedom to delve into whatever I want in each lesson. He plays rock really well and definitely mastered jazz, or what he calls “The J Word.” 

We mainly worked on learning the modes, all of them, along with all the little connects, how to use them all around the neck, and harmonizing the scales and keys over the various chords and chord changes.

I have another lesson with him tomorrow; we are going to work more on the modes and chords. He said if there’s any song or solo I want to learn; we’ll learn ‘em.

To Whom it may concern

 

For those who want to see the shots of me playing at Coffee House as well was shots from the whole night; here is a link to the article and picture thumbnail http://www.putneyschool.org/content/spring-coffee-house-2013

Day 4: Take Out Your Bread Cuz it's Time to Jam

 

CLASSES

Today I started out with comparative religions, my fourth block; they were on Christianity, main Catholicism. I am truly the only catholic here, every on else is mainly atheist and/or non-organized religion. So it was a little weird but I was able to talk to those about my religion and theirs.

So in Comp. Religions, to help us understand Catholicism he decided that we watch the movie Grand Torino. We did finish the movie so far but it was really good and the points and themes it brought about Catholicism, though only indirectly, was very thought bringing material. We analyzed the movie and talked its themes.

 Then I had more of music intensive then Chemistry.

In Chemistry we worked on calculating pH level. Although I didn’t work on this in my chemistry class, I caught on quick and even finished all the problems first and without help. We check the problems and I was completely right.

PUTNEY FUN

 After classes were over I had my activity and mine happened to be ultimate Frisbee. It’s like football, soccer and basketball mashed into one sport but instead of a ball we use a Frisbee. We played a couple of practice games. I was thrown in without knowing anything but it was fun, and more vigorous than I expected. There was constant running, and Frisbees flying around, along with yelling that comes with every sport.

Afterwards I on my way back I found the same senior girls, who looked after me on the first day, we went back to my dorm along with a couple of guys who was on the Frisbee team who was also in the same dorm as me.

We went into on of the guy’s room, and the girls immediately sniffed out his food stash, and boy was there lot of food. We some what raided it; since the guys was with us and didn’t mind too much so as long we leave the sodas alone.

I found is acoustic-electric guitar and just started play while we talked keeping the things lively and fun, I’d change the songs depending on the mood and subject of the conversation.

Then all decided to have a huge dog pile. So I asked if any one had checked the weather because it was sunny with a chance of… Dakota! And I joined in. Pun successfully pulled off, they didn’t it coming.

Then I had to cut my fun with them short because it was time for Jazz Combo

JAZZ  & JAMMING

At the jazz combo, it was really just a rhythm section and trumpet. But we still managed to jam. It is nothing to be compared to my own jazz band. However it was very different for me because I’m used to big band sound and organizing.

We worked on a new song of which I just sight read most of the chords. The jazz teacher allowed me to solo and he loved it. So trumpet and me just switched off now and again improvising.

The jazz teacher was very open and allowed us to really feel the groove not so much on accuracy and blend like with Dr. Fletcher. He didn’t matter what the chords were so as along as we keep the chord progression in relativity to the chords on the sheet.

It was a great jam session, and in the end the drummer and me jammed off to Hey Joe by Jimi Hendrix. Then it turned out that we are both Green Day fans, so we decided to do a cover of King for a Day by Green Day and perform it at assembly before I leave. So we are trying to make small band to play it.

Then when I got to the dorm the bassist from the jazz combo brought out his guitar and we wanted to jam, then came along another really great guitarist in my dorm and he got his guitar and joined us.

 We just went put on the porch and jammed out under the stars.

Day 3: Chapter 2: At Benedict’s I MEAN Putney!

Now that I experienced my first day of the Putney experience, the more I got to know the place and really live through it. Putney always seemed to parallel Benedict’s in so many ways

AM BARN

After finally being able to sleep after 12 I awoke around 5:35 to get ready and work the cow farm.

Waking up wasn’t as hard I thought it would be, lucky another student at my dorm had AM Barn with me and was kind enough to wake me up.  I get ready fast and easy and we headed toward the barn. Then that first wave a fresh cow poop hits along with the refreshing cold air.  From there I knew I wasn’t in Kansas any more, or should I New Jersey?

Truthfully I kind of liked the cow farm. All I needed to really do is get used to the smell, which took about ten minutes.

 First, I hitched the cows into their milking stalls, then help poop out of one of the horse trailer, the stack boxes of hay, stocked the calves with hay, feed the calves milk and then unhitched to cows back outside.

The little calves started to track me around the barn and even licked my shirt a few times.

THEN CLASES STARTED

First up I had Music Intensive, which is class where I make up what I want to learn and work on. I told my instructor my musical background then he told me to make a list of what I want to work on.

Then he led me to the practice room open 24/7, I am allow to use any thing I want, I can chose to use there many guitar hung on the wall including the basses, drums, piano, amps and pedals.

I he also setting me up with direct one-on-one guitar lessons with then guitar teacher of the school.

I mainly jammed away on band songs and tried to write some new ones. I have full access so I can come there and play anytime I want.

Then we had assembly, which is like their version of convo, they do announcements and presentations.  Except there was no hand, no one need to tell you to stop talking they did it on their own, even though did joke around they were able to transition back.

At the end of assembly was their whole school photo, and because I was there, I made a cameo appearance in their school photo!

They also have a block schedule like us at Benedicts.

Then came Conference block, which basically an hour and a half of free time, to get work done, talk with teachers, and just, hang out. That’s when I got a real tour of the place.

I was with a sophomore girl who knew her stuff. She showed me where my classes are, all the places, their field house, the library, the school store, the art band and Currier AKA their music and art center.

Then I had chemistry, and they had a test so I just checked out some Manga of Soul Eater, then later after the test was over we watched a Video of Gene Kelly tap dance on roller skates, which amazing.

Afterwards I had English 10; they are reading watchmen the graphic novel. And this class is really run by the students, they state their arguments, positions and what they got out of it on the various topics and themes in the book as well as uses their own insight and examples through either their notes or their books.

Then classes end for the day then I had my first afternoon activity I chose wilderness skills.

YES I know, a Spring Phase where I don’t have to The Trail and I end up on more trails.

Except this was way more fun, there weren’t any yelling, we can go off on our own, and no pressure.

Today we simulated how to find someone lost in the woods so, we let guy go off head in between the area of three triangulating trails, and get lost, while we go and find them. We didn’t stick to the trails so much until the end. We were spilt into two groups. My group decided to spread far from each being only within sight of the guy in front and back of you. Then we did an Amish sweep. There we all kind of went our separate ways all of us going into super stealth mode trying to find this “lost student.” we found him in the end, be but lost two people in the process not in our group though.

After that I was completely free so I went back to my practice room and jammed a bit. Then I thought it’s a beautiful day why not go out side. So I did found a nice place under a tree and just played.

Later on after dinner, I had my evening arts activity, which was song writing.

First we listened to so music that other student brought in so we can analyze and discuss it. After that our teacher let us go our separate ways and allowed us to write some songs of our own using any one of the acoustic guitars on his rack. I used Diana( the hollow body). I went back into my practice room then I realized we can pair off and make a song if we wanted. But he said try to make a song of summer and or happy/pretty times. Sadly happy song writing isn’t up my alley. I’ve written sad songs, rock songs, angry songs even love songs but not so much happy.

I found one of the girls who I knew from the first night out on one of the picnic tables in field. I decided so see if I can work with her. But we ended up just talking and star gazing again. Boy, do love the stars.

We both had writers block.

Day 2: The Day Before Classes

When I finally awoke, everyone was already out and about. I pretty much got up around three and just chilled in the dorm, listened some to music, on the interwebs, played guitar, eat, talked in a group circle and even watch a little anime. Not in that order.

THEN I GOT TO KNOW PUTNEY

As I began to meet new people and make more friendships, I started to see who these people really were.

And let me tell you, Those who know how crazy Benedict’s can get, these guys are pretty insane but awesome at the same time.

“Being isolated in the middle of no where” they pretty much act in very peculiar ways unique to each Putney student. It’s just awesome, they’re all very accepting and open to many things.

The level of intellect is astounding, although their random conversations and langue may say otherwise. However with many of the student sheer talent and placidness, really makes this place the perfect fit for me.

THEIR SENSE OF COMMUNITY

One aspect of Putney I really love is their community, and although at Benedict’s we all like to talk about our brotherhood and community. This place just blows us right out of the water.

I feel so welcomed and right at home. I feel safe, comfy and happy here. I shared lots of laughs and they really helped me along, getting me to really know the place and getting me ready for the full on Putney experience.

I ended the night with a small guitar jam with the bassist of the jazz combo of which who I played with the night before. 

I can’t wait to start the full on Putney experience tomorrow, I have AM barn so it’s going to start with a big one!

I better get some sleep, because I start work at six in the mourning.

Day 1: Chapter 1 the Story has begun.

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First Day and wow!

When I finally arrived at Putney School I was greeted to play at their open mic like event, of which I did.

I played with a band that had already had a song prepared. So for me we did an improv of me and their lead guitarist soloing over some nice rocky blues. First I just had a little jam with them. Then we met again 3 hours later to do the show.

MEANWHILE

I was given into the care of a couple senior girls of the school. They showed me around, and I continuously met people from Jersey, as if we have this weird magnetic pull.

I went to the girl’s dorm, and into one of the senior’s room who I was being looked after. We played some random board game and talked more and met some more people.

Soon the show was about to start and we headed over. There I met another guy who invited to play with their jazz combo that same night. I accepted and he gave me a chord sheet and allotted me a 32 bar solo.

AT THE SHOW

The band was up first and they did an awesome cover of Crazy Train. After I went back stage and waited for my signal. He gave me the nod and I strolled across stage and plugged in while being greeted by loud thunderous applause.

Bassist and drummer created a sweet groove and the lead guitarist began to comp under my solo. I went all out and did all that I could with just distortion, reverb and a hollow body. With each passing phase I got applause. The Lead guitarist and I switched off, one soloed and the other comping and vice versa.

The people who knew me screamed my name, several times, which gained me a somewhat, rock star status on my first day!

I stayed on stage and then began my performance with the jazz combo. It was just a pianist, trumpeter, bassist and drummer, plus I. 

I jazz comped and was given the signal to solo.

In the end it was a great performance and people loved it.

Because there was a theme, for stars (celestial bodies) and stars (celebrates), other students thought I went all out and did an awesome LMFAO member.

Then it all ended with a night, stargazing on rooftop, with the same girls who looked after during the day.

This was the first time I was ever able to star gaze and it was amazing. 

I think Fr. Al was right; I might not want to come back.