Alive and Well

Perhaps I should reintroduce myself since it has been a while since my last posting. I hope no one was worried. Despite my wishes, I did turn 23. But so far things have been going really well. In fact, some people have even been remarking that I seem to be portraying an unusual amount of happiness. Pay attention to the picture on the right here, because apparently I look REALLY happy, but I can't tell much of a difference!

Ok, enough of trying to be witty and clever (are those two words synonymous) tonight. I do hope everyone is well. This picture is funny though. I bought a new mousepad while I was home in Louisville this past weekend, and I was having so much fun with it, that we now have pictures of me, Brian, Raquel and Zach all with happy face faces! We're dorks, but we embrace it.

But yes, things indeed are going well. I won't lie that the madness of school keeps me caught up in an absolutely whirlwind, but I'm really having a great time. I have a mountain of work that I have to get finished tonight, so I'll keep any hilariosities (invented word) reserved for future, yet more frequent, posts. Ok, I'm really out. Spread the word that I'm not dead and that I'm living up my 23rd year like no one else! Yikes. Ok, have a great week!

It Happened

Well, it happened. Today I did become 23 years of age. Details to follow.

Quick, someone fetch me a stress ball!

When my friend Whitney got a job working as a customer service representative for Humana in Louisville, after graduating from her orientation, she and her new colleagues were given complimentary stress balls, given the nature of the job (dealing with people on the phone who have been denied insurance benefits). Rightly so, Whitney abdicated her position after just a few short days. Anyways, I'm thinking about calling Whitney to see if she still has her supply of stress balls. I can already tell that this is just going to be one of those weeks. Here's a short list of things I have to accomplish this week:

1. Go to Indianapolis and give a concert
2. Turn 23 without falling into a downward spiral
3. Prepare for my lesson
4. Organize a formal request for my recital
5. Start/complete a transcription project due Wednesday
6. Give an orchestra concert on Wednesday
7. Write a 10-page music history paper on Giovanni Gabrieli and his sacred/secular works
8. Travel to Louisville and have fun celebrating my birthday late

As you can see, none of these eight items are terribly taxing, but when they are all combined like a fluke alignment of the planets, things can easily go awry. But I'll manage...somehow. Ok, I'm off. Have a great weekend.

Fun With Old People

So today was quite the celebration. Professor of Trombone and Euphonium at the beloved IU School of Music, M. Dee Stewart celebrated his 70th birthday today. So today was filled with events. There was a concert this afternoon which featured performances by the IU Trombone Choir, all 3 faculty members, and a couple of alumni. The playing was great, but the highlight of the concert in my opinion was from the remarks of the Dean of the Music School. He referred to Mr. Stewart as a septuagenarian. I loved it so much. As some of you may or may not know, I am a lover of words, and at ear's first hearing of this word, I was utterly smitten. I know my friend White Trash, a.k.a. Laura, would have immediately pulled out a notebook from her satchel to capture the exact context in which the word was utilized. Anyways, after the concert, everyone was invited to a very fancy party which featured some more great music by some legendary musicians. Anyways, what I want to tell you about is that I honestly can't wait until I get to celebrate my 70th birthday! I know I've been a little glum about turning veinte y tres, but I think being a septuagenarian could be a real ball. You could be mean to virtually anyone in your path and it would totally be acceptable because well-mannered people respect their elders. So, I thought this would be an excellent insight into aging, since I'm battling the very issue in my life.

Well, I wish everyone a very merry rest of the weekend. I will be practicing, doing laundry and going to a rehearsal tomorrow. So, please try to have some extra fun on my behalf. Ok, I'm off.