I have had about to many blessings for one person today! I went out arrend running/christmas shopping this morning. Driving yourself around is a HUGE improvment over how we used to do it! I went to Mundt Music to research adult piano curiculum, and then I went to Tuesday Morning to see what there was there. I bought my first of two guilty "me" purchases there, a TY beanie bear whoes names is "Killarney." I couldn't resiste a darling wee Irish bear! I found a gift for Lucy there, as well as something for my friend Rebekah. After that, I went to the bank by the mall and resubmited the check that one of my piano moms bounched on me. Lo and behold, it went through this time! I hope I put her out. >: )
Not really, I am just glad to be able to get half of the money she ows me back and to be able to wash my hands of them. After that happy discovery, I zipped to Hastings to pick up my Parents gifts. Then up the road to the used books store that I LOVE, and I sold them a book and bought two more. In a fit of maddness I decided to go to BAM; the parking lot was a madhouse, but undetered I went in. I found what I wanted for Mercy, and then waited for a long time to get out of the parking lot. Whew! I had a most productive morning, am flat broke, and feeling much better about the holidays. I took Mummy out this afternoon in the escort, and we ate a whole loaf of hot, fresh, French bread. Oh boy, that was worth it! I wana go to France...
Supper is pancakes--yum! My grandparents are coming to visit on Wensday--this is a very big event in Burklin History. The Moran grandparents have not spend Christmas with us for 17 years, i.e. since I was 1. Cool! I can't wait! Tomorrow I am going over to Rebekah's; I have not seen her since early November. Much to long! I can't wait!
Random Comment: I love my green beenie bear!
The creative efforts of a crazy middle school teacher living in small-town Texas with her cat, music, books, and knitting.
Monday, December 20, 2004
Friday, December 17, 2004
Wow!
I am out of school! I have a few weeks to do fun things, not practice, and read! Yeah!
Yesterday afternoon I went with my Mom, Mary, and Mercy to Marshall to do some shopping. We went to Marshall Pottery--AWSOME PLACE! I just wish I had had some money with me! (I had lost my wallet) It was fun to walk around and see all the interesting Christmas tress and go into the room with the coffee and smell. One Christmas tree really struck me becuase it looked like my Grandmother. The tree had hydrangas in the branches (Grandma has hydrangas all over her kitched!), and all the ornaments were ladylike and Grandma like. I thought that was really cool. What do you think a Christmas tree that looks like me would be like? Hmm...
After Marshall Pottery we went to Payless and found out that there were a whole lot of boot for unbelievable (under $8!) prices! The boots that I have been drooling over all semester were in this catagory! Oh we were excited! For awhile the isle was sort of lost in a flurry of large boxes and exited Burklins with big feet trying on boots and jumping for joy. (I was jumping/dancing a little. I was so happy!) So now Mary, Mercy, and I all have matching brown boots, and Mummy and I have black ones in the same style. Who knew that boots could bring so much joy into our lives?
Last night we watched the first disk of the extended Return of the King. Wow! Oh, we watched the first scene on the other side, when Legolas shoots Peter Jackson. Rock on! I can't wait to see the rest. I was ready to stay up forever to finish, but off to bed we went. Poo. Oh well, Faramir and Eowyn are up on this disk! :::dances in delighted circle::: Good day yesterday!
Yesterday afternoon I went with my Mom, Mary, and Mercy to Marshall to do some shopping. We went to Marshall Pottery--AWSOME PLACE! I just wish I had had some money with me! (I had lost my wallet) It was fun to walk around and see all the interesting Christmas tress and go into the room with the coffee and smell. One Christmas tree really struck me becuase it looked like my Grandmother. The tree had hydrangas in the branches (Grandma has hydrangas all over her kitched!), and all the ornaments were ladylike and Grandma like. I thought that was really cool. What do you think a Christmas tree that looks like me would be like? Hmm...
After Marshall Pottery we went to Payless and found out that there were a whole lot of boot for unbelievable (under $8!) prices! The boots that I have been drooling over all semester were in this catagory! Oh we were excited! For awhile the isle was sort of lost in a flurry of large boxes and exited Burklins with big feet trying on boots and jumping for joy. (I was jumping/dancing a little. I was so happy!) So now Mary, Mercy, and I all have matching brown boots, and Mummy and I have black ones in the same style. Who knew that boots could bring so much joy into our lives?
Last night we watched the first disk of the extended Return of the King. Wow! Oh, we watched the first scene on the other side, when Legolas shoots Peter Jackson. Rock on! I can't wait to see the rest. I was ready to stay up forever to finish, but off to bed we went. Poo. Oh well, Faramir and Eowyn are up on this disk! :::dances in delighted circle::: Good day yesterday!
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
I am staggering around, barely alive...
The reason for that heading is the Into to Music final. Remember the scene in Monsters Inc where the "scream extractor" is used? Well, I felt like a "brain extractor" got put to my head. Oh my, I have never had such a hard final. Even the Bib. Lit. one was more fun. My brain hurt after spitting all that information out on a piece of paper. I was writting as fast as I could so that I could get as much info as possible on before my brain shut off in protest. Wow! That class was a doosey! I have a Brit Lit final today. yeah! That one will be do problem! I am ready for finals to be over. Just three more and I am free!
Monday, December 13, 2004
I've been thinking...
I had a great weekend with Elise! And then I went to see Annie so it got even better! What would I do without my wonderful friends!
I have been thinking about a bunch of things lately--both about having a community to belong to and another thing. I have never had a music community to belong to before-what a blessing! I love musicians! Never before have I been able to laugh at music jokes with other people who get them without being explained, and never before have I had people to make music with. God was good in letting me go to ETBU.
Another thing that has been crawling around in my mind has been language. God gave us words to express ourself and to communicate with others and Him, yet we have corrupted them and turned them into an instrument of evil. So many of the words I hear today are ugly; the scary thing is that I am getting used to them! I have to constantly decide what words to use, and it can be a real fight to keep from using common words. Oh my, words are powerful and our choice of words should be extra thoughful as Christians. Yet how easy it is to chose words to come out of our mouths that do not glorfy God, and that do not edify those who hear.
This whole thought leads into my ideas about praise and worship songs. I feel that because God is above us, we should use our best language and our best expressions of creativity to reach him. I am not trying to say that God will not take whatever efforts we extend to him, yet I truely feel that at least in my heart I need to offer up my best to God. My best is best expressed in old hymns which is why I vastly perfer to sing them. I like some praise and worship songs, but for the most part I find it easier for me to offer my best to God if I am singing hymns. Just some thoughts.
I have an Ear Training final in 30 minutes, and I have an Intro to Music final at 1. Ick. Oh well, I will live. God bless all the poor college students in thine tender care, and please give us good grades to celebrate here!
I have been thinking about a bunch of things lately--both about having a community to belong to and another thing. I have never had a music community to belong to before-what a blessing! I love musicians! Never before have I been able to laugh at music jokes with other people who get them without being explained, and never before have I had people to make music with. God was good in letting me go to ETBU.
Another thing that has been crawling around in my mind has been language. God gave us words to express ourself and to communicate with others and Him, yet we have corrupted them and turned them into an instrument of evil. So many of the words I hear today are ugly; the scary thing is that I am getting used to them! I have to constantly decide what words to use, and it can be a real fight to keep from using common words. Oh my, words are powerful and our choice of words should be extra thoughful as Christians. Yet how easy it is to chose words to come out of our mouths that do not glorfy God, and that do not edify those who hear.
This whole thought leads into my ideas about praise and worship songs. I feel that because God is above us, we should use our best language and our best expressions of creativity to reach him. I am not trying to say that God will not take whatever efforts we extend to him, yet I truely feel that at least in my heart I need to offer up my best to God. My best is best expressed in old hymns which is why I vastly perfer to sing them. I like some praise and worship songs, but for the most part I find it easier for me to offer my best to God if I am singing hymns. Just some thoughts.
I have an Ear Training final in 30 minutes, and I have an Intro to Music final at 1. Ick. Oh well, I will live. God bless all the poor college students in thine tender care, and please give us good grades to celebrate here!
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Let the Earth Rejoce!
Jurries are over! They went really well! I have two finals out of the way now, and life looks good!
I was burning leaves today; I am sitting in the lab smelling smokey, but that is just to bad. I kind of like smelling smokey. I didn't know until supper last night that we were going to be doing the leaf work at Dr. Austin's today. I was not thrilled, but it is a little more money for the X-mas fund. Man, Christmas is coming up fast!
Chai Party tonight. I sort of want to just fast forward to the day when fianls are over. However, that is not possible. Oh well. Things happen!
I can't think of anything else to say, so I will post my fianls peom that I came up with last year:
To the tune of "In Dreams":
When the time of exams comes
midnight oil will blend with day
In the veiling of the sun,
We hope we haven't,
Learned in vain.
But in dreams,
We will sleep again,
And in dreams,
We will be free, again.
When the books and papers fall,
And we file, them all away,
In the fall I hear a call,
Calling me there, I will go there,
and learn again.
~~Lina B.
Not the best thing in the world, but it went well with a picture of Boromir after Gandalf yelled in Black Speach during the councel of Elrond. Oh well. I am done!
I was burning leaves today; I am sitting in the lab smelling smokey, but that is just to bad. I kind of like smelling smokey. I didn't know until supper last night that we were going to be doing the leaf work at Dr. Austin's today. I was not thrilled, but it is a little more money for the X-mas fund. Man, Christmas is coming up fast!
Chai Party tonight. I sort of want to just fast forward to the day when fianls are over. However, that is not possible. Oh well. Things happen!
I can't think of anything else to say, so I will post my fianls peom that I came up with last year:
To the tune of "In Dreams":
When the time of exams comes
midnight oil will blend with day
In the veiling of the sun,
We hope we haven't,
Learned in vain.
But in dreams,
We will sleep again,
And in dreams,
We will be free, again.
When the books and papers fall,
And we file, them all away,
In the fall I hear a call,
Calling me there, I will go there,
and learn again.
~~Lina B.
Not the best thing in the world, but it went well with a picture of Boromir after Gandalf yelled in Black Speach during the councel of Elrond. Oh well. I am done!
Thursday, December 09, 2004
AHHHHH!
You know that Celi Rain song about barley staying inside of your own skin (well, Annie will know what I am talking about!)? That is how I feel right now. Jurries are in 2 hours and 19 minutes and I am starting to feel the familare PERFORMANCE FREEZE. I am so glad that after today it will mostly be over. Finals don't scare me near as much as jurries. Oh I want to be done with them! Ack! I know I will do well, but telling myslef that dosn't always help. ::::head bang::::
I am still upset over the check that got bounced on me over Thanksgiving. I can't get a hold of the person, and I am watching my Christmas money evaporate. Argh! I want to wring her little neck... But then I guess she wouldn't pay me. ::sigh:: I am sure God will work it out, but it is hard to wait when that much money was lost.
I found out that I now have 2 non-comprehensive finals instead of only one. Thank you Dr. Whaley! I love non-comprehensive finals! I want finals to start--I want them over with!
Well, there is nothing else to say other than it is now 2 hours and 15 minutes till jurries. Will let you know the results!
I am still upset over the check that got bounced on me over Thanksgiving. I can't get a hold of the person, and I am watching my Christmas money evaporate. Argh! I want to wring her little neck... But then I guess she wouldn't pay me. ::sigh:: I am sure God will work it out, but it is hard to wait when that much money was lost.
I found out that I now have 2 non-comprehensive finals instead of only one. Thank you Dr. Whaley! I love non-comprehensive finals! I want finals to start--I want them over with!
Well, there is nothing else to say other than it is now 2 hours and 15 minutes till jurries. Will let you know the results!
Monday, November 15, 2004
I wish someone would comment on my blog!
There were grimlins in the Stienway on Friday. Ryan got them out though. I am trying to get ride of my own little performance grimlins. The Symphony is tonight. I lugged all my stuff over, and I am afraid that by the time comes to put it all on I won't care any more. My parents are heading to New Orleans tomorrow! Ack! More stress! Someone will be with the rest of the zoo while I am away, but I will have not freedom till they get back! I am so not ready for Thanksgiving to come yet. I have to much to do with juries coming up, the end of the semester, life, and everything else. I will be glad for the break, but I have so much to do in so little time.
Oh, good! Finals are a whole week later than I thought they were! I thought I had a concert to sing in during finals week. Yes! That is some stress off my shoulders. The 15th of December is the last day of finals, and then I come back on January 11th. that is about a three week break. Not bad!
I finally have all the Chopin memorized, almost all of the Fugue, and all the prelude. If only it would act like it was memorized...
Oh, good! Finals are a whole week later than I thought they were! I thought I had a concert to sing in during finals week. Yes! That is some stress off my shoulders. The 15th of December is the last day of finals, and then I come back on January 11th. that is about a three week break. Not bad!
I finally have all the Chopin memorized, almost all of the Fugue, and all the prelude. If only it would act like it was memorized...
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
The stars have aligned in my favor!
Well, since I last wrote the Chopin has gone into my brain, and I have sucessfully played it back for two people. I first played it all the way through from memory on Friday, and then on Monday I limped/crashed/stumbled/fudged my way through. So Dr. Sulton goes, "Good! You can play that friday {for studio class}." I was thinking, "ahh, that just randomly came together for like the second time and it just happened to happen in your office!" Ack! So I tried playing the peice for Elise yesterday. I MADE IT! It has taken most of the semester, but I have a five page peice memorized! Praise the Lord!
I think it is about decided that we are going to go to Brookwood. The really cool thing about that is that I will become the church pianst. I will enjoy that. However, even though I don't like our old church at all, it the groove I am acustomed to. Switching churches, no matter how good the reason it, is scary! The finality of this decision is a little scary, but I am sure God lead us to that church and that he will bless our membership there.
It is for certian- no more piano performance for me! I am now going to be a happy BA who will have caboodles of extra credits lying around. I will have theory and a sacred music minor in theory (though not on paper becuase of some obscure reason!), and a lot of extra piano hours becuase I want 16 not the required 10. Sometimes I wonder how colleges can even function with thier own rules and things. Why do all the different departments have to work different? I mean, there should be a little difference, but why does music work in its own little world? And, as Dr. Rogers said, as soon as I learn the system, they will change it! I love ETBU, but sometimes I wonder what the people who made this stuff up were on...
I think it is about decided that we are going to go to Brookwood. The really cool thing about that is that I will become the church pianst. I will enjoy that. However, even though I don't like our old church at all, it the groove I am acustomed to. Switching churches, no matter how good the reason it, is scary! The finality of this decision is a little scary, but I am sure God lead us to that church and that he will bless our membership there.
It is for certian- no more piano performance for me! I am now going to be a happy BA who will have caboodles of extra credits lying around. I will have theory and a sacred music minor in theory (though not on paper becuase of some obscure reason!), and a lot of extra piano hours becuase I want 16 not the required 10. Sometimes I wonder how colleges can even function with thier own rules and things. Why do all the different departments have to work different? I mean, there should be a little difference, but why does music work in its own little world? And, as Dr. Rogers said, as soon as I learn the system, they will change it! I love ETBU, but sometimes I wonder what the people who made this stuff up were on...
Saturday, October 30, 2004
:::miscievious grin::::
I feel like going crazy today. Those of you that know me probably already think I am crazy, but it is fun saying I want to go crazy. I think I am going to modify my major somewhat-no more piano performance for me! I am almost positive that I am going to become a BA, take French, and be a happier person.
I got gesured at by a rude person on Thursday becuase I didn't pull out into oncoming traffic. I wanted to back into him, but then neither of us could have gone, and the way he was ranting in my rearview mirror made me not want to meet him in person. Sheesh!
Tomorrow is Highlight night. I do not know how I am going to make it through. Highlight night is everything I hate, rude people, lots of noise, crazy lights, lots of people, lots of noise, claustrophobic conditions, and did I mention lots of noise? I hate the noise things like that generate. Not to mention all the people. I am the kind of person who has a largish personal space area, and I get upset when it is violated for long periods of time. Good thing I am not from a no personal space culture!
Highlight night is also a ministry, just a stressful one. At least it only comes once a year.
It is really wierd even doing Highlight night becuase we are in the process of leaving the church. I don't like switching churches, but I have been ready to leave this one for quite some time. I like the tinny church we are looking at, but I am feeling a little torn. I could acompany and get paid at some church somewhere else, or I could go to this little on, be happy, and be thier music person. ARGH!
I got gesured at by a rude person on Thursday becuase I didn't pull out into oncoming traffic. I wanted to back into him, but then neither of us could have gone, and the way he was ranting in my rearview mirror made me not want to meet him in person. Sheesh!
Tomorrow is Highlight night. I do not know how I am going to make it through. Highlight night is everything I hate, rude people, lots of noise, crazy lights, lots of people, lots of noise, claustrophobic conditions, and did I mention lots of noise? I hate the noise things like that generate. Not to mention all the people. I am the kind of person who has a largish personal space area, and I get upset when it is violated for long periods of time. Good thing I am not from a no personal space culture!
Highlight night is also a ministry, just a stressful one. At least it only comes once a year.
It is really wierd even doing Highlight night becuase we are in the process of leaving the church. I don't like switching churches, but I have been ready to leave this one for quite some time. I like the tinny church we are looking at, but I am feeling a little torn. I could acompany and get paid at some church somewhere else, or I could go to this little on, be happy, and be thier music person. ARGH!
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Ick.
Today is a sticky day. I motion that muggy days in October be banned and made to pay everyone a $100 fine. Ha, ha. I can just see the entry in the student handbook--"Any day in October that fails to comform to the following guidlines will be fined $100..." (Yes, I am poking fun at ETBU)
I had a WONDERFUL practice this morning! I have got the first two pages of that #!@ Chopin Prelude mostly memorized! Victory at last! By the way, I really like the piece, but it has been, to quote Elise, "eating my socks." The infuriating thing about Chopin is that he was a pianist, so everything in his fantastically complicated peices is totally doable. Cheater! I really like Chopin, but I am frusterated becuase I have been having the hardest time memorizing it. The Bach fugue on the other hand... : ) I am a hopeless Bach fan. I can't help myself.
I had a Brit. Lit. Test today. The one question that I know for sure I goofed was the one about when Milton wrote Paradise Lost. I said he started writing the year he died. : / That was silly. I must have a stern talk with my gut instinct...
We get to start working on Christmas music in choir today (I think)! I am so excited! I love being in choir, even if we do have to wear the ugliest, most uncomfertalbe, least flattering, most expensive dresses possible. (There is some exageration, but if you had to wear one of these things, you would be singing that tune too.) The concert went really well. My world is (for the moment) peaceful and good. (fingers crossed)
I had a WONDERFUL practice this morning! I have got the first two pages of that #!@ Chopin Prelude mostly memorized! Victory at last! By the way, I really like the piece, but it has been, to quote Elise, "eating my socks." The infuriating thing about Chopin is that he was a pianist, so everything in his fantastically complicated peices is totally doable. Cheater! I really like Chopin, but I am frusterated becuase I have been having the hardest time memorizing it. The Bach fugue on the other hand... : ) I am a hopeless Bach fan. I can't help myself.
I had a Brit. Lit. Test today. The one question that I know for sure I goofed was the one about when Milton wrote Paradise Lost. I said he started writing the year he died. : / That was silly. I must have a stern talk with my gut instinct...
We get to start working on Christmas music in choir today (I think)! I am so excited! I love being in choir, even if we do have to wear the ugliest, most uncomfertalbe, least flattering, most expensive dresses possible. (There is some exageration, but if you had to wear one of these things, you would be singing that tune too.) The concert went really well. My world is (for the moment) peaceful and good. (fingers crossed)
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Facinating...
I just realized that I have used an exclimation mark in the title of my blogs for a while. I wonder why. Must be something subcontious! I spent the night at ETBU with Elise and Brandy-this morning I am sort of groggy. I slept on a huge bean bag last night, and surprisingly I am still able to walk. :)
Elise and I watched Ladyhawke last night; I was pretty sure that she would like it. Based on the things she reads and the music she listens to, I was almost 100% sure that she would love the movie. And she did! It is nice having a widescreen laptop! I hope that we can watch movies some other time when there aren't tests looming on the horizon.
I retook the intro to music test; I do not think it is an A, but I am happy becuase anything I got is way better then the F I had. Thank goodness for second chances and wonderful department deans!
The Choir concert is today. I have a black shoe delema. I have some black shoes; I personally think they are leftovers from the Spanish Inquisition. They are some of the most painful things I have ever worn. The problem is, that I can't make up my mind to spend money on some new shoes. I went shopping at Walmart yesterday for two things I knew I hated shopping for, and I discovered a third thing that I do not enjoy shopping for. I hate shopping for jeans, shoes, and make up. I just wanted some simple silver eyes color. Is that to much to ask? Aparently! As if it is not bad enough that there are like seven different brands of makeup to chose from, they can't come out and say, "Silver"! Ack! I ended up giving and up getting something that looks close enough. I came back to school and ate chockolate and mentally huddled up in a hole after that trama. Ick. Oh well. I had better go get some caffine in my system or I might not make it. Yet another day in my crazy life has begun!
Elise and I watched Ladyhawke last night; I was pretty sure that she would like it. Based on the things she reads and the music she listens to, I was almost 100% sure that she would love the movie. And she did! It is nice having a widescreen laptop! I hope that we can watch movies some other time when there aren't tests looming on the horizon.
I retook the intro to music test; I do not think it is an A, but I am happy becuase anything I got is way better then the F I had. Thank goodness for second chances and wonderful department deans!
The Choir concert is today. I have a black shoe delema. I have some black shoes; I personally think they are leftovers from the Spanish Inquisition. They are some of the most painful things I have ever worn. The problem is, that I can't make up my mind to spend money on some new shoes. I went shopping at Walmart yesterday for two things I knew I hated shopping for, and I discovered a third thing that I do not enjoy shopping for. I hate shopping for jeans, shoes, and make up. I just wanted some simple silver eyes color. Is that to much to ask? Aparently! As if it is not bad enough that there are like seven different brands of makeup to chose from, they can't come out and say, "Silver"! Ack! I ended up giving and up getting something that looks close enough. I came back to school and ate chockolate and mentally huddled up in a hole after that trama. Ick. Oh well. I had better go get some caffine in my system or I might not make it. Yet another day in my crazy life has begun!
Friday, October 15, 2004
ponder and weep!
Okay, there is a reason for that intersting title. First of all, I have been thinking about some interesting things today. Have you ever wondered what the wings of the dawn looked like? I always sort of thought of them as either rainbows, or tagable, golden light. "If I took the wings of the dawn, still you'd find me..." I also was thinking about being an alumni. What will ETBU be like when I come back as an Alum? Will I see shadows of myself in my youth and will I see ghosts of my friends? Will I be shocked by how things have changed, or will I be amazed at how it stayed the same. Will my memories be full of laughter, sunshine, and joy, or will I wonder how I ever made myself stay for three years on this campus? Wow. Deep thought.
The weep part of my title refers to the grade I made on the intro to music test. Lets just say that it is my scholastic carear low, and leave it there. I flunked, failed, and in other words discraced myself. However, Dr. Webster gives grace to the freshmen! We can retake the test! The one problem is that he is giving us the test at seven AM on Tuesday! Interesting! Argh! It is friday, and I need to practice, and I don't want to go through with the weekend. I am singing at a foot ball game tomorrow. Oh well, I am done.
The weep part of my title refers to the grade I made on the intro to music test. Lets just say that it is my scholastic carear low, and leave it there. I flunked, failed, and in other words discraced myself. However, Dr. Webster gives grace to the freshmen! We can retake the test! The one problem is that he is giving us the test at seven AM on Tuesday! Interesting! Argh! It is friday, and I need to practice, and I don't want to go through with the weekend. I am singing at a foot ball game tomorrow. Oh well, I am done.
Monday, October 11, 2004
Beyond the Pale!
About a week ago I went to a Beyond the Pale concert. I haven't stopped singing since. I love celtic music! Being able to play music in the Excort has been AWSOME! I want to get a walkman adaptore pluggy thingie though so I can listen to CD's. I was thinking the other day about how people always had to listen to tapes. CD's were a major sound break through! So, sadly tapes must go the way of the dinosaure. Sniff. No more flipping, no more distorted sound, and no more fun grimly picking the tape out of the machine and wondering if you can a) wind it back up again, and b) is it the tape or a hungry tape player at fault. I feel old! I actually remember activly using tapes! At least I don't activly remember records! Then I would be really old. However, records were cool. You just couldn't play them in your car without taking up most of the room. : )
I had a really bad day until my lesson. I had fun. I get to learn the fugue that goes with my Bach Prelude! Life is cool! Before that I had a Monday. Yuck. I stoped at a light and forgott to shift down into first gear. For some strange reason I had a very hard time getting going again. I though I had broken the Escort. Oops. Then I went to theory and discovered agian that if you are going to be working with Diatonic triads, you have to start counting on scale step 1, not 2. Oops. In Ear training I didn't hear the first intervale in the test, so the first four intervales are off, and I made up an intervale for 5. After that everything is alright. I was distracted becuase I was trying to remember how 6/8 rythem worked. Oops. I had to put gas in the Escort today. That was more fun this time becuase I remembered how to get the gas cap off. I also remembered what side the gas cap was on.
Dispite all that, I am feeling much better. I am learning a Fugue! How can anyone learning a Fugue be unhappy? (Yes, I am strange for all you non music people out there.) I wonder how tomorrow is going to go? Can't wait to find out!
I had a really bad day until my lesson. I had fun. I get to learn the fugue that goes with my Bach Prelude! Life is cool! Before that I had a Monday. Yuck. I stoped at a light and forgott to shift down into first gear. For some strange reason I had a very hard time getting going again. I though I had broken the Escort. Oops. Then I went to theory and discovered agian that if you are going to be working with Diatonic triads, you have to start counting on scale step 1, not 2. Oops. In Ear training I didn't hear the first intervale in the test, so the first four intervales are off, and I made up an intervale for 5. After that everything is alright. I was distracted becuase I was trying to remember how 6/8 rythem worked. Oops. I had to put gas in the Escort today. That was more fun this time becuase I remembered how to get the gas cap off. I also remembered what side the gas cap was on.
Dispite all that, I am feeling much better. I am learning a Fugue! How can anyone learning a Fugue be unhappy? (Yes, I am strange for all you non music people out there.) I wonder how tomorrow is going to go? Can't wait to find out!
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Shift away!
Well, believe it or not, I am now driving a stick shift. Notice that I said nothing about how well I do it, or how many times I stall, but I am driving! The very fact that I am still alive should be encouraging. My first lesson driving stick didn't go well at all. I was in tears at the end. Trying to juggle the clutch, balance the gas (you breath on the peddle and it goes VROOOOOOM!!!), and deal with my Dad going, "Trafic is stacking up, people are blowing thier horns, what are you going to do?" (This as I am stalled in the middle of the road) My respones to the following query was a compleate loss of ability to do anything. I do not do well when I am stressed and someone does something like that to me. However, I am past all that now. I just jerk a little whenever I start from 1st gear, reverse, and ocasionally when I shift into 2nd.
School is going well. I feel like an Alto right now becuase I am working on getting a cold, but other than that I am doing well. Havine a car every day is going to be so cool! I enjoy being in the music building so much; everyone here is so nice and looks out for each other. I love the sense of belonging that I never got at LU. I had a intro to phsyc test today. Can't wait to see how that comes bach. Gotta love it! There is an intro to music test on Friday, and part of an ear training test to do by Friday. I can't wait for Fall break. I wonder what I will do?
I can't think of anything else that might possibly be worth writting. More later!
School is going well. I feel like an Alto right now becuase I am working on getting a cold, but other than that I am doing well. Havine a car every day is going to be so cool! I enjoy being in the music building so much; everyone here is so nice and looks out for each other. I love the sense of belonging that I never got at LU. I had a intro to phsyc test today. Can't wait to see how that comes bach. Gotta love it! There is an intro to music test on Friday, and part of an ear training test to do by Friday. I can't wait for Fall break. I wonder what I will do?
I can't think of anything else that might possibly be worth writting. More later!
Monday, September 20, 2004
Hornblower!
Last night Annie came over and we watched the first part of the Hornblower episode, "The Mutiny." I love Hornblower! I love the actor that portrays him, I love the character, and I love the studies on human nature. I really like this particular episode even though it is about injustic, and athority that is wrong and insane becuase you see so much about the moral fabric of each character. Buckland is a wet noddle who is more concerned with keeping his own hide safe than righting wrong; Hornblower is restricted by his overwhelming sense of duity and his desire to see justic done; a lot of what Hornblower struggles with is how can he possibly fulfill his duity to the upmost. Bush steps into a bad situation, and has to chose between Buckland's aproach and standing up for the right, and Kenedy has to make some hard choices about sacrifice and seeing justic served. (sniff. I love Kenedy!) It is so true that when the rubber hits the road is when you see what someone is really made of. There are lessons to be learned everwhere!
Today is the symphony; Annie drove me over. I feel so lucky to have such a good friend! I hope to get to know Elise better today. She seems like such a neat person! That is all my profound thoughts for today. More later!
Today is the symphony; Annie drove me over. I feel so lucky to have such a good friend! I hope to get to know Elise better today. She seems like such a neat person! That is all my profound thoughts for today. More later!
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Gotta Love it!
"Its always darkest before it goes pitch black." So says Dispare Incorporated. The excort is still not up and running, and it is not going to be re-painted tonight. Bummer! I wish I could understand why this is God's will for me right now. I keep thinking about Job though... Today I had three tests--bang, bang, bang. After I was done with class I was kind of going, "Anyone else want to pick my brain?" I almost felt like I had had a mind probe (remember, from Star Wars) going though. I think I did alright on them all. (At least I sincerely hope so!) More later.
Monday, September 13, 2004
What a life!
I failed my drivers test on Thursday. I was asked to parallell park. The problems: a) I had never parallell parked, and I had never been taught how becuase some person who should have known told us that I didn't have to know till I was 19. b) I was trying this difficult manuver for the first time in a 15 passenger van. As you have probably guessed, after a relativly futile time spent see-sawing, I failed. That was a bad day. Today I drove a friends mini van into school. The sad thing is that the mini is the smallest car that I have ever driven in my life! The Escort will be a shock then!
My classes are going well; I am so happy being a music major! After last year, I am almost afraid that I am going to wake up and find out that it is all a dream--the being happy and in college thing. The first year of college must be one of those things that you have to endure for the rest to get better. I love being happy and in school!
I had a really good weekend; hopefull the week will follow suit. If all goes well, at the end of this week the escort will be painted and drivable, I will have my licence, I will have had a good week, and I will not have flunked the two tests and papers that are due this week. Thank goodness for Sophmore years!
My classes are going well; I am so happy being a music major! After last year, I am almost afraid that I am going to wake up and find out that it is all a dream--the being happy and in college thing. The first year of college must be one of those things that you have to endure for the rest to get better. I love being happy and in school!
I had a really good weekend; hopefull the week will follow suit. If all goes well, at the end of this week the escort will be painted and drivable, I will have my licence, I will have had a good week, and I will not have flunked the two tests and papers that are due this week. Thank goodness for Sophmore years!
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Wow...
It has been amazing to me how my life has been working out lately. I aught to be totally stressed out right now; I am comuting to Marshall, carrying a 15 hour load, practicing, living out of a locker and haunting the student lounge, I am strangely happy. I was thinking this weekend that it must be becuase I am in the palm of God's hand. Because I am where I am meant to be, I am given the grace to live. Ha, ha, ha! I just saw a sign that says "Tiger Oath: I will not re-shelve any library materials after use." I saw so many signs about that in LU's library last year, it is funny to see it here! Anyway, back to my profoud thought. I feel almost as if I was wrapped up in the middle of something; like I do not need do any more than be. I only hope this wonderful peace lives on for the rest of the semester! I have never had quite this experiance. I have been thinking sort of a lot about what it means to be a commuter at ETBU. One thing it means is that I read the sign in the student lounge about the coffee maker a lot. If it is left plugged in and dirty, away it goes. I don't drink coffee, so there is no chance of me having it go! Being a commuter at ETBU means that I am almost a permanent fixture in the lounge. Just love that! That is one of the drabbest rooms in the whole building. Maybe I should get a pictuer or something to hang on the wall! Being a commuter means that I have a bunch of food stuffed in a locker, and I spend a lot of time pulling as much as I can out of my backpack and putting it in my other locker. More later!
Sunday, September 05, 2004
Grrrr
I went to practice in the assembly building today. I walked over from my house with a bunch of music books and my laptop in my backpack. The key got stuck in the door. I called my Dad. He was upset, but came. Security saw me trying to pull the key out. He got the key out. Daddy arived. Daddy left. I practiced. The piano stinks. I felt like I had a weight on my throat. I tried to sing. So much for that. I walked home getting my backpack wheels dirty. I don't want to do that again. Oh well, we all have scenarios like that. I will live!
Friday, September 03, 2004
Crazy days!
Wow. I am on my 8th day of school. I am still alive, mostly caught up, and happy to be here! The drive over here was really nice this morning becuase it was overcast. Driving to Marshall is in the sun both ways; that can be a realy chalange! On Tuesday the sun was just rising when I was driving over. The windshild was sort of dirty, so the sun was reflecting off like the whole screen. Ack! Sometimes it was like I was driving into a wall of light. That would have been cool if I was not so worried about staying on the road... The really scary time was when the whole windshield was lit up, and I knew there was an interesection ahead. I only hoped that I could see by the time I got there! As I am still alive, I am sure you deduced that I am still alive.
I had a nice surprise today. We were supposed to have a test in E. Harmony (basically theory) today, but it was posponded till Monday! There was a class full of some very happy people. : )
I am reading Beowulf right now; wonderful story! I have always liked it. I love the descriptions in the text, and I am finding it interesting that there are a whole lot of Christian insertians. I guess that is what happens when a Monk writes down an Anglo-Saxon poem! I think it is interesting that every time God is mentioned, almost imidiantly his name comes up again. I wonder if there is a reason for that pattern, or if I am just reading it in. Facinating!
I had a nice surprise today. We were supposed to have a test in E. Harmony (basically theory) today, but it was posponded till Monday! There was a class full of some very happy people. : )
I am reading Beowulf right now; wonderful story! I have always liked it. I love the descriptions in the text, and I am finding it interesting that there are a whole lot of Christian insertians. I guess that is what happens when a Monk writes down an Anglo-Saxon poem! I think it is interesting that every time God is mentioned, almost imidiantly his name comes up again. I wonder if there is a reason for that pattern, or if I am just reading it in. Facinating!
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Funny, the things that get you
I saw my first ETBU grounds worker today. I started to get a little choked up. I almost went out there and gave him a pat on the back, but he might not have understood that. I have so much sympathy for people working in this weather! I know all too well what it feels like to be sweating away out under the unforgiving Texas sun. I am glad that I no longer belong to that noble brotherhood. Life is much better as a pianist. Not to mention easier on your hands!
Monday, August 30, 2004
Dragons!
I have a pet light switch. No, I did not finally sucumb to insanity, I mearly though of an intertaining way to say that I conisder the dragons on my lightswitch to be pets. The irritating Noah's ark switch plate that used to adorn my wall is now gone. I say the switch plate was irritating, becuase it was so raised that finding the switch became a challange. I hate that kind of cover. The person who designed it should have one installed in every room of thier home. See if they like it then! Anyway, I digress. I now have a beautiful pair of vivildy green dragons on my wall, and am discovering anew that I really like dragons. One of the best things about dragons is that you can use a lot of supper cool words to talk about them. One of my favorite obscure words refering to dragons is "squamus." (this will not show in your spell check or dictionary) Squamus means scaley. It is so much more fun to say that you found a squamus dragon, than a scaley dragon. Another really cool thing about dragons is that they breath fire. Think of what an asset that would be! Lets say I want a good excuses for not doing my homework? "Oh, my dragon ate it." Somehow, I don't think they would buy that! One of my favorite things about dragons is thier color. No one disputes the fact that healthy dragons are bright colors. The really cool thing is that they are way nicer colors than your average reptile. Greens, purples, blues, reds, yellows, and pearl are all aceptable dragon colors. If I could have a choice, I would like my very own purple dragon. I wonder what the nighboors would say? One of the down sides to having a full sized dragon would be the fewmites though.
I have my first piano lesson today. I guess it went alright. I have never had a guy teacher, so that is really different. In a way, I consider Dr. Sulton to be a bit of a dragon. I find him somewhat intimidating. However, I think we will get along well. When you come to think of it, a lot of people are a little like dragons. Some hoard things, some keep large collections (my hand goes up), some are rather fierce, and some have firey tempers and forked tounges. I guess in a way we really do have dragons among us! It all depends on how you define them.
I have my first piano lesson today. I guess it went alright. I have never had a guy teacher, so that is really different. In a way, I consider Dr. Sulton to be a bit of a dragon. I find him somewhat intimidating. However, I think we will get along well. When you come to think of it, a lot of people are a little like dragons. Some hoard things, some keep large collections (my hand goes up), some are rather fierce, and some have firey tempers and forked tounges. I guess in a way we really do have dragons among us! It all depends on how you define them.
Saturday, August 28, 2004
I wonder...
Have you ever wondered what was going through a composers head as he worked? Okay, I know that most of you non-music people couldn't care less or that particular random thought never came (I love random thoughts!) into your head, but I have been wondering that today. I love the movie Amadeus becuase it shows Mozart conducting this beautiful peice of music. The music grows, and then all of a sudden it stops, you see Mozart sitting at a table and looking up at his wife who has just entered the room calling his name. The one I really wonder how he ticked is Beethoven. Hell for me would be losing my hearing. I do not think that I could go deaf and stay sane. To be a musician and locked in a silent world...I can not understand how that is even bearable. I need sound! I wonder how these songs come to composers. How do you know how to translate something into music? Music really is a language, yet how do you turn the spoken word into sound? Facinating! I wonder what it feels like to have a symphony bursting to get out of you. How much can you hear at first? How can you dream up complex sonatas? God is truely good to let echos of heavens harmonies drift down to earth. I wonder if composers ever feel like they are only grasping what they wanted to say, barely doing what they heard justic?
Friday, August 27, 2004
I made it!
The first week of school is drawing to a close, and I can soon go home and collapse. Being a music major is at the same time insan and one of the most fun things that I can think of to do in the whole wide world. I have done a lot of new things this week, and so far God has given me the grace/peace/ability to handle whatever comes my way.
It has been interesting for me to look at college from the perspective of an almost sofemore. Watching the freshmen is rather interesting! Watching the loud kids can be quite intertaining. I can't ever remember being a loud kid. I don't understand the need to make noise at every half good excuse! I would rather be happy quietly. Freshmen are also interesting to observe in class. Most freshmen fall into one of two catagories when it comes to note taking. Either they take copius amounts of notes, or they don't even have note taking materials. I know now what kinds of notes I need, so my amount varies.
Freshmen are also fun becuase they are so nieve about everything! They think that they can function well on three hours of sleep and a lot of caffine. There are some stout advocits for this theory, but I am not one of them. Sleep is good. Sleep and caffine are even better! Freshmen also think that the day starts at 10pm around here.
There are some interesting differences about ETBU that I really like, and there are some that I don't like so much. I love the lockers in the music building. I would be going in to see a chiropractor on the hour if I didn't have a locker! My backpack can get soo heavy, and the sad thing is that it is all with ligit stuff! Whats more, I am enjoying the pernounced fine arts emphasis. LU needed more of that. I miss the devos before classes though! I wonder if there is any way to start a campus movement for that?
It has been interesting for me to look at college from the perspective of an almost sofemore. Watching the freshmen is rather interesting! Watching the loud kids can be quite intertaining. I can't ever remember being a loud kid. I don't understand the need to make noise at every half good excuse! I would rather be happy quietly. Freshmen are also interesting to observe in class. Most freshmen fall into one of two catagories when it comes to note taking. Either they take copius amounts of notes, or they don't even have note taking materials. I know now what kinds of notes I need, so my amount varies.
Freshmen are also fun becuase they are so nieve about everything! They think that they can function well on three hours of sleep and a lot of caffine. There are some stout advocits for this theory, but I am not one of them. Sleep is good. Sleep and caffine are even better! Freshmen also think that the day starts at 10pm around here.
There are some interesting differences about ETBU that I really like, and there are some that I don't like so much. I love the lockers in the music building. I would be going in to see a chiropractor on the hour if I didn't have a locker! My backpack can get soo heavy, and the sad thing is that it is all with ligit stuff! Whats more, I am enjoying the pernounced fine arts emphasis. LU needed more of that. I miss the devos before classes though! I wonder if there is any way to start a campus movement for that?
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