Merry Christmas.

Its Christmas, and I very nice one at that. Nothing crazi or chaotic, just simple and laid back. We watched TV for a while, opened our gifts, went snowshoeing, shoveled the walks, watched some more TV and ate a delicious dinner. I made it over to Shane's house for a little while too which was fun, saw all the Maggarts as well as Katie. It was good to see them all. Plus we brought them presents since they broke into our house to help our dogs when we were stuck in Seattle. Never thought I'd have to say that sententce. Life is good. Listening to good music and I'm comfy and cosy. Now that is a good holiday.

Strings

Somehow, bittersweet string music always makes me feel like crying. They just get that mournful sound down pact. But in happier news, I just finished my last final. And yet I still have three pieces of homework to do...Don't really get that one. Also, my computer temporarily died on me this morning. Scared me something fierce, I managed to get it going again, at least temporarily, but now ALL my music and pics are backed up. Not a mistake I'll be making again. I think it was just spiting me though, as I did buy a new computer last night. I can't wait for it to get here! Should be about a week and that's not long at all.

Woot

So it's been an adventuresome couple days. I passed my pre-recital jury...barely, discovered teaching first grade music is a ton of fun, the B-Girls got the shop cleaned up, and I'm currently finishing my last homework assignment for the quarter. Can't get much better than that! Except for the fact that I just bought a new computer! I can't wait for it to be delivered. Go life.

Waiting...

Sitting in the music building, waiting for my jury. They're already about 10-20 minutes behind which will be interesting since my accompanist has to scoot out 15 min. early. There is not going to be enough time for us to play everything we have to...I don't really know how that's going to work out. But that's okay. We'll just have to wait and see. I'm looking forward to pizza and beer tonight though, that is going to be nice. Nice conclusion to a long day. Go Finals!

No such thing as the real world...

I'm done with classes. All I have left is student teaching, thesis, senior recital, and 30 hours of volunteer work. That is just ridiculous to me, and I don't really know what to make of it right now. I feel like there is so much I need to pull away from, but I don't really know how and now it seems life is descending upon me. I think that's a good thing, but strange none-the-less. I guess I can just hold tight and enjoy the ride.

Should be going to bed...

I should be going to bed but I'm rather putting it off. I have to teach 3 lessons tomorrow and I'm kinda nervous. I think it'll be good though, it sounds as though the students are going to be responding well to me...*fingers crossed!* I'll spend all day at Medical Lake too so it'll be nice to see some of the classes I haven't had a chance to observe yet. I like to hear about all the awesome successes Gail has had in previous experiences though. She really knows what she is doing and that excites me because it gives me a great opportunity. She wants to go over lesson plans with me too, and is already giving me some awesome pointers. She's going to completely remake that band program into something amazing! It's going to be a really good experience for me I'm thinking...Yay! Hnnn, I really should go to bed, I do have to get up early.

Wishing...

My mom's mad I want to go to Europe. Well, I suppose mad isn't the right word. She's worried that I'll never come back. But I'd at least come and visit...who really knows what will happen. I can't wait to go though. Jazz festival was good, weird to think it was my last one from that perspective. If I ever have another I'll be a director. I'm also done with marching band in the same concept. That one I'm thrilled about. I enjoy marching, just not at Eastern.
I forget how much I love listening to solo piano music. It is fabulous. Makes me wonder why I've always enjoyed playing, though it never sounds the same to me when I play as to when someone else plays. For now though, I'll just enjoy.

Back on the Horse

Life is good today. I feel back on my feet again, which is really nice. I found out I'm officially student teaching at Medical Lake today, and Gail and I started hammering out details of what all that will entail. I also got some good practice time in, had a great rehearsal with Andrea, and am all set for Jazz Dialogue Festival. I'll be running concessions all day tomorrow so I'll have to get up nice and early, nothing new there though I suppose. Oh, and everyone should go watch Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog. It is beyond fantastic. I guess that's the quick run down of today...I have to book it outta here to go catch Heather.

Why do we teach music? Not because we expect you to major in music. Not because we expect you to play and sing all your life. Not so you can relax. But... so you will be human. So you will recognize beauty. So you will be sensitive. So you will have something to cling to. So you will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, more good, in short, more life. Of what value will it be to make a prosperous living unless you know how to live? That is why we teach.

~Unknown

I want to travel so bad it hurts! I want out of Spokane something fierce. I'm really going to have trouble sitting through the rest of this year of school...

If adventures do not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad. - Jane Austin
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go -Dr. Seuss
When you travel, you experience, in a very practical way, the act of rebirth. You confront completely new situations, the day passes more slowly, and on most journeys you don't even understand the language the people speak. So you are like a child just out of the womb. You begin to attach much more importance to the things around you because your survival depends upon them. You begin to be more accessible to others because they may be able to help you in different situations. -Paul Coehlo
Stripped of your ordinary surroundings, your friends, your daily routines, your refrigerator full of food, your closet full of clothes - with all this taken away you are forced into direct experience. Such direct experience inevitably makes you aware of who it is that is having the experience. That's not always comfortable but it is always invigorating. -Michael Crichton
When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly. ~Barbara J. Winter
Of the gladdest moments in human life, me thinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty effort the fetters of Habit, the leaden weight of Routine, the cloak of many Cares and the slavery of Home, one feels more happy. The blood flows with the fast circulation of childhood... A journey, in fact, appeals to Imagination, to Memory, to Hope - the three sister graces of our moral being. - Sir Richard Francis Burton, 1856
May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks. -J.R.R. Tolkien
Remember you are over the edge of the wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go. -J.R.R. Tolkien
When you get back from your travels, and tell your friends of all the interesting people you have met in obscure bars and hostels. Only to realise after years of travel, you are the guy they talk about. -Cedric Pieterse
Music reminds us of our travels, just as much as it inspires us to travel. It urges us to unfold the maps, pack the backpack and hit the road. -Cedric Pieterse
Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living. - Miriam Beard
There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign. - Robert Louis Stevenson

A weekend gone by.

It's been a pretty fun weekend this week. I got to go do Epicurean Delight with the FK girls. That turned out to be a ton of fun. Lots of really good food, and we got to prance around in cute dresses all evening. The only downside was that all the floors were cement, so by the time we were done six hours later our feet were a hurting! Jen and I spent a half hour crouched around the tub soaking our feet. Smart move I'm thinking. I did see some of my favorite customers from FKII there as well as Mr. Westrick. I had a long chat with him which was nice. Oh! and Jen and I had a competition to see how many times we could fit the word "shiny" into our conversations with the guests. And you couldn't use it as a descriptive word as in, "Oh that shirt is so shiny! I love it!" No, we had to use it as an expletive such as, "You just moved to Spokane? Shiny! I hope you'll love it here." Or, "I'm doing just shiny thanks!" Gotta love stuff like that. At work yesterday we decided we want to go on a cleaning spree. Totally didn't think my mom would go for it, but she is it sounds like. She would love to for the price of pizza and beer. And she hasn'even seen the progress we've already made during the day!

Just cleaned my apartment. Woot. First time I've felt productive all week. I'm sick of how out of it I've been feeling. I don't like feeling useless. But the weeks almost over so I'm almost there. Yay! I'm doing Epicurean Delight tomorrow night. That should be lots of fun. Or so I hope at least. :P