that viola thing came out of left field!
viola is awesome, i don't know whether i'd choose it over physics though. i've been thinking about lessons because i don't have the motivation to practise on my own lol

japan is also awesome, so want to go back there. so i think japan is a good idea, my vote would at least lie there

while you were busy winning that tournament (which was the second one by the way, mike won the first one lol) i was getting extremely frustrated at Jamie playing Mao, stupid game i say
 

It was the first one on saturday :p. Also Mao is awesome.
 

Mao is only awesome if you win occasionally. Jamie's rules were starting to get obscure and made it almost impossible to win. In the end i had to fold because i couldn't concentrate on what cards i could put out anymore
 

Option C: B then A. Would make more sense, you get the best of all worlds...

Travelling = Networking
Networking = Contacts/friends (music/karate/"work")
Contact/Friends overseas = knowing people to get you places

PhD can = travel
Travel = contacts in Japan.

Viola = fun!
 

C didn't include any viola awesomeness. I thought of another crazy option:
stage 1 - audition for composition
stage 2 - study composition if successful
stage 3 - go to japan
stage 4 - study phd in physics :p.

That would put me at 27 when I start the PhD. That's not so bad really :p.

Wow, crazy.
 

I forgot the options by the time I read the comments, but I reckon do the PhD while you still know physics and still have ideas. You could just keep up the hectic lifestyle for another 3 years, a scholarship means you could save time not tutoring and spend more time doing music/karate. Alternatively you could still be tutoring (or possibly not still) and have money for music lessons again.

One that's definately not on the list is part-time PhD? You could do it part-time if your working, and aren't you (or close to) an instructor rank at karate? In which case you could do your PhD part time and earn your money teaching karate. Then you'd also have plenty of time and money to fund learning all the music you like.

Although all of these options do cut Japan out for a while. What if you look for a PhD supervisor in Japan and combine all possible options?
 

I started writing a big detailed response to your blog, but after a page and a half I realized I should just talk to you about this in person.
 

lol, good one shaz :P
 

Steve - Ya this option is also a serious consideration. It depends on how demoralised I am after I finish my thesis I think :p. If it all goes well I'll probably be pretty keen to keep doing what I'm doing as a PhD, since there are so many things to examine in the current stuff I'm looking at and I already have ideas about it.
Doing that and getting music lessons and actually practicing properly might be a good idea.
I won't get any money from Karate, I'm near instructor rank but instructors don't really get paid. Student fee money goes to keeping the Dojo open. I imagine my sensei probably puts in more money than he gets out.
PhD money would make me rich in comparison to now tho.
 

do whatever your heart tells you to do, because in the end you're the one that has to live with your decisions.

Mao is totally awesome...
and speaking of awesome, that's an awesome photo of you :)


-avid reader
 

Alright who's being a smart-ass? :P

What's this avid reader crap?


Do your PhD so I have somebody to compare progress to and keep me motivated :)
 

yeah i wanna know who's telling me mao is awesome lol

BEN HAS A BLOGGER STALKER!!!
 

Steve - lol, very good. There are many plus sides to that plan. For instance I would have money to take, say, a two week trip mid next year to new zealand to snowboard. That would be hella cool.

Anonymous - I agree, sadly my heart is non-helpful, it tells me to do all of the above. I think actually getting proper viola lessons and learning stuff like *gasp* scales and technical work will help me feel better about my music at least.
 

Then that seems like a good place to start. Begin lessons and bring on the scales *yawn* LOL. :P
 

Nat, i hardly see how it's stalking, considering the internet is a public domain.

Steve, you're just jealous - would you feel better if i read your blog too?

-AR
 

Avid reader is funny.