MAYBEEEEES

Since I don't have cute kids to post pictures of or super exciting stories to share you don't get me very often. However...I've been home from vacation for almost 2 weeks and all I have to say is I'M READY FOR MORE!!! The kids I watch are pleasantly occupying each other at the moment and we haven't had any potty training breakdowns today. All I can say is that babysitting is the BEST BIRTH CONTROL EVER!! I love kids and look forward to having them someday, but right now I'm pretty content with traveling and not taking care of someone who can't poop on their own. I have a whole new level of respect for you mothers out there! God bless you all!! ;)

This time of year it always seems like things are completely up in the air. Maybe this....maybe that...maybe this is where you'll be in a month...

It makes me very antsy and uncomfortable. For those who might not know me well, I am a very plan-happy kind of person. I realize I'm in the wrong field to not be okay with this lifestyle, but I love what I do so I try to make it work. I just get a little extra stressed this time of year.

1. I MIGHT have an audition at the end of August, therefore...

2. I MIGHT have to get a plane ticket to Portland, OR so..

...

3. I MIGHT (if I somehow miraculously get this job) have to figure out what to do about my newly leased apartment.

4. I MIGHT have an interview to teach bassoon at the University of Tulsa

5. I MIGHT have to change all of my client and aerobics class availability for the traveling if I get the job

6. I MIGHT have to drive to Tulsa every week (however lucky enough that my grandparents live there so I would have someone to stay with) and last but not least

7. I MIGHT have to move to Alaska to get out of this 2 straight months of over 100 degrees weather! Who wants to come with me?!

These may not seem like a huge deal, and some may seem like good Mights and Maybe's. but

I just want things to be in line...in a very straight line. :) While all of these things are panning out this is what I'm trying to keep in my mind to keep me nice and calm..

Frisbee with Dad at the beach near their home in Port St. Lucie, FL

The back patio of the student union at University of Wisconsin

Our sunset booze cruise in Key West

LUCKY

As I was packing up my apartment I decided to get super organized with everything. who are we kidding...I don't

need an excuse to get super organized with everything. :)

Anyway...I realized I hadn't emptied my camera in awhile. I came across these pictures.

Looking at them I got that horrible panicky wreck feeling all over again. I started thinking how lucky I was.

-Lucky that my parents put me in a vehicle that held up like it did after rolling and flipping end to end.

-Lucky there was no traffic (in a normally high traffic area) as my car skidded from the left lane all the way across the interstate.

-Lucky that all I got was a concussion (from my bassoon which flew from the back seat).

It could have been so much worse than it was. The inside did not hold up as well as the outside, but I couldn't stand looking at pictures of that. Even the crew that showed up at the wreck kept saying we were lucky to be alive. Moments like these just make you realize how much you should cherish every moment. I don't want to sound preachy or cliche, but it's common sense...don't ever take anyone or anything for granted. That easy. Feel lucky that you wake up each morning and live the life you get to live.

HILARIOUS!

Since my "Torn" post was such a downer I wanted to share the conversation I had with one of my clients. She is a little older lady, shorter than me, about 70 years old.....

Client: "by the way honey, I curse like a sailor."
Me: "haha. well, I think I can handle myself. You just let it out."

Me: "So what are some of your goals. what would you like my help with?"
Client: "well, I wouldn't mind if things were tighter. I don't mind if my boobs jiggle but I dont'
want my ass to jiggle."
Me: "You're funny. I like hanging out with you."
Client: "well hell! if that's the case lets forget this workout and go have a beer!"

Client: "So how do you de-stress?"
Me: "I like to clean my house. It makes me feel much better and very relaxed."
Client: "Oh honey I can think of much better ways to de-stress. It's called Margaritaville.
I've visited there maaaaaany times."

Client: "my husband and I used to own horses and we gave riding lessons. Daughter of (insert well-known OK family name here) used to take lessons. She was an uppity little bitch. I kicked her out. "


This woman is the feistiest lady I've ever met!!! :)

TORN.....

Not that anyone reads this, but if by chance you do some much needed advice is welcome....

I've been struggling a lot lately with things like "how much is too much?" "when is it okay to
tell someone no?" "where do you draw the line?" and "when is it okay to lay down the law and tell a superior what you want?".

I've taken on a new job as a trainer at a new gym here in town. I absolutely love it!! It does get a little frustrating sometimes because my schedule is never the same and people can schedule appointments as last minutes as they want. I might get a call at 9pm saying I have an extra client or I go in the next day to work with someone and then find more people have been scheduled after them...bye bye lunch. It's not that I mind the clients because a girl has to make a living, but as an employee am I allowed to make demands such as "a client must schedule at least 24 hours in advance" or "I must be contacted when any change (add-on or cancellation) has been made to my schedule." At first I didn't mind, but it got to the point where I never new my schedule until I got to work and then to find out I was there all day (no lunch break, no practice time) and then people would just not show up. If I'd known I was going to be there all day I could have brought my bassoon along and practiced when someone didnt' show. And it was very difficult having no lunch and then teaching back to back zumba or spinning classes.

And when can you begin to ask for days off without feeling like a child getting scolded? I literally have no days off during the week at all! Training and teaching every day. I'm beginning to feel like 13 classes a week is just too much. I start to feel like maybe I'm just being a weenie and I shoudl be able to handle that no problem, but again....no day off. The only days I don't teach 2-3 classes are Saturday and Sunday when I teach one each. I feel bad because people count on me to teach these classses (employers and participants) but at what point can I say enough is enough and not feel horribly guilty? I'm exhausted. I like to give 100% in my classes, but that level is getting very difficult to attain every time.

Don't get me wrong...I absolutely love teaching and even more so training, but it's really hard to push through the more difficult and tiring days when there is no light at the end of the tunnel. No end in sight. No day to relax your muscles, be lazy, do what you want, and catch your breath. But as an employee when do I have the right to ask for that kind of demand? Should I always be willing to bend over backwards for people? Even clients? I make exceptions when it comes to scheduling appointments all of the time, even if it goes into my free time because I feel like it's my obligation to do so. And if I don't I feel like I'm just being selfish with my time.

How do I get past all of this, figure out what is acceptable and fair to everyone else, but still find time and not feel guilty about having time for me? I'm not proud of this, but yesterday I just got to the point where I felt I couldn't take anymore. I called my mom and just cried because I was exhausted and didn't feel like I could go anymore but still had 3 classes to teach (all in a row) last night. I cried almost all day...just for no reason except the fact I felt like I was falling apart.

I have an audition coming up on top of all of this which I have mixed feelings about. I think I'll do okay and might have a chance, but if I had been able to be as focused as I normally am I could kick this thing in the ass!!

so where do you draw the line? I still have to make a living so I don't want to jeopardize everything by making some request that seems unreasonable to the people for whom I work. Torn between feeling sane or feeling guilty. Which will it be?.......

Reflecting...

So I'm in Baton Rouge for the 3rd time this orchestra season. When I am here I have a lot of time to myself (which is not a bad thing) to sit and think about things: past, present, future.

Lately I've been thinking back on all of the decisions I've made in this year. I think it's because all of a sudden I realized that 2010 is coming to an end! Already! It went by very quickly. I've felt this way all year. I remember thinking back in January how much happened in just 1 short month.

-New Years Eve concert with Baton Rouge Symphony

-1 week in New Orleans playing with the Louisiana Philharmonic

-1 week in Baton Rouge playing in a Chris Botti concert.

-Principal bassoon gig with the Tulsa Philharmonic

Since then, I've finished my first season with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and started my 2nd. I received my Personal Trainers license, Zumba and Zumba Toning Certification, CPR/First Aid Certification, Water Safety Certification, Water Fitness Certification, trained in Bags and Cycling. I teach at pretty much a different gym every night of the week except Sunday (gotta have those days off). I just accepted a job at a new gym and will hopefully establish enough clientele there that I can maybe thin out my traveling back and forth from 5 different places. The new Fitness One hired me as a personal trainer and cycling instructor. The target opening date is the 20th of this month! I realize I might have added just another destination to my cramped schedule but I'm really hoping that working at a "legit" gym I will be able to establish more of a permanent home. I love training at OU, but students can be unreliable and quite flaky as clients. I often find myself frustrated with them because they don't want to push as hard as I would like to push them. Fitness One is going to be an excellent facility and the people I've met are top notch so I'm super excited about getting started!

Seeing as how I've been trying to start a new career since August things have been a little tighter than I'm used to having a 9-6, M-F job. No surprise to me of course. I knew it was coming. It's been fun, it's been stressful, it's been an adventure. I am constantly amazed at how wonderful everyone has been!! They always have me in the front of their mind when extra classes/hours are available. They call me in for small jobs that they need "help" with, even though I'm pretty sure it could be handled by them alone. Turns out....they want me to succeed! Who knew!? As much as we seem to think people disappoint us on a day to day basis, let me tell you that is absolutely false! Yes, there are those we can't count on..I'm not completely naive, but for the most part people are good and gracious and they want to help you in any way they can! It's okay to see the best in people, they might surprise you!! I taught at a zumbathon a couple of weeks ago that was set up by one instructor for another who's family needed financial help. Their unborn baby is going to need heart surgery right after he is born, but insurance won't cover all of the costs. We raised over $3000!! If you have faith in people they will have faith in you and their support will carry you quite a long way. Never take that for granted. Otherwise you will get nowhere alone.

After reflecting on all of these things from 2010 I start thinking how different it could have been. What if I had decided to go through with the move to Baton Rouge?

-I wouldn't have had the connections I did to get started with the fitness part of my career which would have made life a living hell! Getting started is the hardest part, but having people who know and care about you to help you get started makes a world of difference.

- I could have been putting myself in huge financial trouble! Why do that if it's not totally necessary?

-I wouldn't have met all of the incredible people I have since starting in August. Other instructors and trainers, colleagues, friends, others.

I realize there would have been some good things about moving to Baton Rouge, but I'm so glad I didn't. I can't help but think of all the things I would have missed out on had I moved! I knew in my heart it wasn't the right time, but I wasn't sure why. I was even a little upset with myself for not taking that step. I felt like I had chickened out, and I beat myself up over it for months. All of my life people have been telling me that things happen for a reason or they happen when they are meant to happen. I always smiled and nodded because I knew they were trying to make me feel better for whatever reason, but a small part of me believes it now. I'm not saying I'm a die hard believer in Fate and that my life is already planned out for me. But I do believe there is a path and you choose which turns you take, which fork in the road, etc. I'm not going to get super philosophical or anything.

We often make decisions not based on our gut but based on what other people have to say about them. We may be afraid to make a choice because of what someone else will think. Well screw that! (easier said than done, I know). Do what feels right for you. Think about yourself and what makes you happy. You are the only one who has to fully live with the decision you make. If you're gut tells you not to move....don't move! If it tells you to move...pack up the U-Haul! Just listen to your heart....it will rarely steer you in the wrong direction.

To sum everything up...this has been an incredible year in so many different ways! One of best I think! I'm even coming to terms with and looking forward to 27! (after a month of adjusting).

I'm really happy I didn't move to Baton Rouge. Sometimes things just have a way of working themselves out and falling into place when you least expect it.

BAD LITTLE BLOGGER......

So first I will apologize for any typos. It seems that I've turned into an old fart and have developed arthritis in my riht pointer finger. I'm trying to use it as little as possible. learning to type with only 4 fingers is quite odd.

As some of you know I quit my comfy full-time job at the beginning of August. It was a hard decision but something that had to be done. There were some things I wanted to try and I decided the best way to make myself do them was to jump in blindfolded with no floaties. I received my personal trainers license, group fitness certification, and water fitness certification back in May and April. I decided to try free lancing and see what happened. I was completely freaked out about several things: no set schedule, no consistent paycheck, etc. Things are looking up though! I have been hired several different places to do several different things and most im,portantly they are all OKAY with me being gone for symphony rehearsals in Baton Rouge.

I will be teaching zumba at OU, Shawnee YMCA, OBU, Crosspoint Church, and Pauls Valley Dance STation along with Bags/Kickboxing at OU. I have also been hired as a personal trainer at Crosspoint church (they have their own gym set up) and OU. I'm so excited but so nervous!

I was concerned that I would have too much spare time on my hands, but it doesn't look like it will be much of a problem. Not to mention my new form of income will wear you out!! yay! :)

Monday: Bags 5:30-6:30 and clients the rest of the day

Tuesday: OBU Zumba 4-5, bassoon lessons 5-6, Shawnee YMCA Zumba 6:45-7:45

Wednesday: Clients in the AM, quintet rehearsal, Crosspoint Zumba

Thursday: clients in the AM, quintet rehearsal, PV Zumba

Friday: clients in the AM, OU zumba

I'm so excited that things seem to be somewhat (fingers crossed) taking off. And the first orchestra rehearsal is in 2 WEEKS!!!!!!!! WAAAAAHOOOOO!!! It's really the light of my life :)

Let's hope my finger can keep up. So that's pretty much the update. Stressing a little, but enjoying life fully. And I live right down the road from the football stadium so I get to be right in the thick of thigns on game day!!! woot!!

MY RECITAL

Here is my recital. It was soooo much fun! Thanks to everyone who came to watch and came to play!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejxMYiFVJk0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9FX-pT_nO4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u95Om5VZM2s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWv2WceKNkA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BszB3axyCWY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DoYSqm50EU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm-HP1VGn1g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc7OGaRcyxk

......

I realize my posts have not been interesting as of late. This does not mean I'm a boring lump. :) I'm still doing so many things I can't keep my head on straight, but plans are changing and once again everything seems to be up in the air. Once some kind of plan gets established I will keep everyone updated. Lets just say it's looking like Oklahoma will be my home for another year and I will officially be entering the world of the grown-ups by purchasing a new car. Like I said.....things are iffy. That is all. But don't worry......I'm still alive and kicking, barely.

Boring fact for you but interesting one for me! The first 3 blogs on my blog list to the side are all friends with little girls named Addison! So therefore, no one else can name their daughter Addison. Otherwise I'm going to get very confused. :)

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!!!

I realize the new background is super cheesy, but I'm so ready for spring I can't hold it in any longer!! HAPPY SPRING!! Bring on the spring fever!

For the few who actually read this

MY RECITAL!!!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH @2PM

SAINT STEPHEN'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
1801 W. BROOKS ST
NORMAN, OK 73069

RECEPTION TO FOLLOW!!!
PLEASE COME AND BRING FRIENDS!

UP..UP....AND AWAY!!!

Another up lifting me higher!!

I'M PLAYING PRINCIPAL WITH THE TULSA SYMPHONY THIS WEEK!!!

Rehearsals Wednesday-Friday and then concert Saturday and then I leave
for New Orleans Monday!!

I also discovered this weekend that since mid-July I have put 25,000 miles on my car....oops!

2010

Well, 2010 has been an intersting year so far. Even though it's only been around for a little less than a week. There have been ups and downs like any year, but the ups this year are extremely high!! I'm talking a house flying around with helium balloons tied to it kind of high!! Which by the way, if you haven't seen UP you really should. :)

So I went down to Baton Rouge to play The Nutcracker for the first time ever! I dont' think I could have enjoyed it anymore than I did. I danced in it as a kid, and I always wanted to play it but the opportunity never presented itself. 20 years from now I'll probably be blogging about how tired of it I am....but I doubt it. Who gets tired of The Nutcracker?!

Less than 2 weeks later I had to be back in Baton Rouge for New Years Eve. This might not sound too exciting to some people, but I'm a girl who the last couple of years has been asleep by 10:30 and the 4 or 5 years before that I was always on a bus headed to a college bowl game. So the thought that I'd be up at least past 11pm playing music and not sitting on a bus was totally awesome! And not only was I playing in an orchestra, but I was playing songs I absolutely LOVE with an orchestra!!! Sing Sing Sing, In the Mood, String of Pearls....big band stuff I never thought I'd get to play as a bassoonist. At heart I'm a pure jazz musician. I even wanted to pick up jazz bassoon, but I completely suck at improv. BOO! Anyway, it was a great night with great music and watching the audience actually dance to every song was incredible. I have to admit I was having a really hard time sitting still....16 years of dancing still lives in me I guess. It was especially difficult when we played a Santana song and the bongos were right behind me. Talk about self restraint!! They're lucky and didn't thrown down my bassoon and shake what my mama gave me!

So the most incredible UP is when this very week I got a call from the personnel director of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in New Orleans. They needed a 4th bassoon player for the Verdi Requiem this month and they asked me to come play!! I'm finally making the connections and feeling like this is actually my career! So at the end of this month I'll be in Louisiana for 2 weeks straight! Actually I have a 3 day break between New Orleans and Baton Rouge and my aunt and uncle in Houston have kindly offered their spare bedroom to me so I don't have to drive 10 hours back to OK only to drive 10 hours to Baton Rouge 3 days later. I am also thankful for my INCREDIBLE boss and his wife who are more than willing to work with my schedule so that I can make these trips and slowly expand my career. I could not ask for a better situation or better people for whom to work. THANK YOU JEFF AND KAYE! Oh!!! One of the most important things.....I will be moving to Baton Rouge in August. I realize it's probably THE hottest month of the year so if no one wants to help I understand. :) I dont' really want to move before then because I have been asked to be in a wedding for one of my oldest friends. I'm also doing her wedding cake. DOUBLE DUTY! I'm really looking forward to it though. But the moving brings up my next subject........

The ever popular NEW YEARS RESOLUTION!
I've decided to put it out in the universe so that I will be held accountable for it. Seeing as how I'll be moving I'll have to find a job aside from playing in the orchestra. now I've been wanting to do this for a long long time, but I never got around to saving the money or actually doing it. In the next few months (once some money has been set aside) I will be getting my personal trainers license. It's something I'm very interested in and I love working with people. Living a healthy lifestyle is something I feel is very important, and the thought of helping someone achieve this makes me bubble over!! And since I decided not to change my major to nutritional sciences I think this is the next best step. I figure once I get to Baton Rouge it could also provide another career avenue. People in the South have to work off all of that delicious cajun food right?! ;) Of course I will also be getting my Zumba license somewhere down the road. The more I go to classes the more I love it and the more I want to teach! Who would have thought that Shaking your butt + absolute fun = an incredible workout?!

One last thing before I end what turned out to be a ridiculously loooooong post.
RECITAL!!
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 @ 2PM
SAINT STEPHENS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
NORMAN, OK

*there will be pictures from my trips but I havent' had time to get them from my camera to my computer.

THANKSGIVING FUN!

Thanksgiving was a little untraditional this year. My family is really spread out so my aunt invited me to her in-laws house to celebrate. They always welcome anyone into their home...the more the merrier! I brought Logan (the french horn player from my quintet) and his girlfriend because they couldn't make it home for Thanksgiving. I've been the lone student during a holiday before and it's no fun. So any opportunity to extend an invitation into my family (or partial family) for the day I jump at the chance. We all had a blast!! There was, of course, tons of yummy food....even though I'm not the biggest fan of the traditional Thanksgiving feast. The best part is being out in the country with horses to ride, donkeys to pet, four wheelers, motorcycles, tree houses and anything else you could possibly thing of. I was so exhausted that night!! I fought to stay awake until 8:45 but it was totally worth it!

Eli and Logan catching a fish!

Ethan and his Grandpa Chris goin' for a ride Everyone in the Gator for a ride!

Logan and the donkeys!

HOUSTON

I went to visit some family in Houston/audition for a few days this week. It was so much fun! I love being around family and just being able to relax and enjoy their company. My aunt and uncle recently moved back to Houston so my other aunt drove down there with me and we got to see their new house. We even got to help cook for a party my Aunt Lori was having and Missy and I enjoyed her wonderful margaritas....maybe a few too many. But hey....I was on vacation! :)

The morning before we left Vance (my uncle) asked me to play the Jaws theme on my bassoon. Here are some videos of what that developed into. It was pretty entertaining.

Vance recently picked up the pool table from my grandparent's house. They'd been storing it for him in their garage for years and he was finally able to take it back. I used to play on it a lot when I was little. Not so much shooting pool with a cue stick, but more just rolling them back and forth. But I'm getting better. I mean.....check out this form!

My cousin, Tiffany, flew in on Friday

so I also got to spend some time with her.

There are many more pictures HERE

20 years in the making......

As most of you know I've wanted to play bassoon in a professional orchestra since I was 5. I won't go into the long story...but let's just say it involved a record of Peter and the Wolf and many grueling years of waiting until I was big enough to play and smart enough to spell 'bassoon'.

The long wait has finally ended. In the last 2.5 weeks I have auditioned, accepted, and played for my first professional group. I am the 2nd bassoonist of the Baton Rouge Symphony. Don't get me wrong, I'll still keep taking auditions because there is always a slightly higher group to play in, but if that day never comes for me I am perfectly happy where I am. It's never mattered to me where I was playing....as long as I'm doing just that. I'm never happier than when I'm playing bassoon. The first concert was last night.....

You're probably thinking that it should have felt like any other orchestra concert I've ever played in. I sat in the exact same spot I've alway sat it, was surrounded by all the same instruments that normally surround me, and I was looking into the same bright lights with the hint of a baton waving around in front of me. But no........ it was unlike any experience of my life. Maybe it was just knowing what all went into getting to play in that concert and sitting in that chair, surrounded by those musicians, looking at that particular baton. I mean.... I was sitting there thinking "this is totally awesome! I'm getting paid for this!" (not a whole lot mind you) but paid none the less! After so many disappointing auditions I'd started to wonder if I was going down the right track. I started looking at other possibilities (music therapy, teaching, something in the totally opposite direction). I even gave myself a 5 year deadline. If I hadn't gotten an audition by then, I'd move on, accept that I was supposed to be doing something else with my life. After last night I'm so glad I got to that chair before the 5 year deadline! I would have completely missed out on something absolutely incredible! There was absolutely no where else I should have been last night besides on that stage. It's just who I am. I'll never be wealthy, living the high life. But that's okay. And do you know why it's okay? Because never will I say "Ah man...I have to go work" I get to say "Oh man! I have to go to work!!!"

If I never make it to a larger orchestra I'll have to keep doing something else on the side, but it's okay because I know why I'm having to work in a coffee shop or an office supply store. It's because I'm living the dream, and to me that's everything. Not many people feel about their jobs the way I feel about mine which is that I never have to work a day in my life. And I can mean it with all of my heart.

I always thought that "follow your dreams" "you can do whatever you set your mind to" were kind of cliche. I had started to lose faith in those phrases, but boy have a changed my outlook. Today I would double dog dare you to go back 20 years and tell that little blonde, curly headed 5 year old girl that she wouldn't be doing exactly what she wanted when she grows up. It makes me think of that song from Sweet Charity:

All I can say is "Wow-ee!

Looka where I am.
Tonight I landed, pow!
Right in a pot of jam.
What a set up! Holy cow!
They'd never believe it,
If my friends could see me now!

Now on to the not quite so heart felt part of the trip! I LOVE Baton Rouge. There's delicious food: crawfish etoufee, bar-b-q, and oh oh oh the sweet tea!

brisket stuffed baked potatoes. Awww heaven

I had Monday off so we drove down to New Orleans.

One of my favorite places in the U.S. We had some food, listened to a little music. All a fantastic way to spend the day.

I bought a piece of art from a street artist. There's just something about contributing money to a struggling artist that makes me feel good inside. and the painting is pretty darn cute if I do say so myself. I think looking at and buying art from the merchants around Jackson Square is just one of those things you need to experience in New Orleans.

We spent some time in downtown Baton Rouge. Went to the capitol building and saw where Huey Long was assassinated. Then we saw his grave which is actually in the Capitol Gardens near a huge statue of him. We spent a little time in the Louisiana State Museum. There was a lot to see and read about so we only made it through the first floor. But it was free so i'll be back to peruse the other fascinating exhibits. The zoo was only $1 from 3-5 on Wednesdays so i thought it was worth checking out. Absolutely not! The large cat exhibit (which is supposedly the highlight) was closed for renovations and the rest of the zoo was awful. i won't even discuss it. Lets just say it brought me to tears and I couldn't get out of there fast enough! Darn them they got my dollar!!!

The rest of the time was spent in rehearsal and resting up for rehearsals. I keep thinking I would love to live there, but 90 degrees with 95% humidity is a little much...even for me. And I like to think of myself as adaptable to any climate. I mean heck! I lived in the tundra for 3 years! We'll see I guess. I suppose every place is going to have downsides to it's climate. You just learn to adjust. It is a great place though. I always felt at home in New Orleans and now Baton Rouge. I'd move there just for the sweet tea! It's the little things that make me realize how much I missed the South :) Anyway, the concert was a success. Bryan tried to record a little, but it doesn't quite do it justice. At least I don't think so. Either way... here's a little tid bit of Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony for your enjoyment!!

The city was great! The rehearsals were great! The concert was out of this world!!!!! I still can't think of many words besides 'awesome' to describe how I still feel right now. I'm still on my musician's high. I think this picture comes pretty close to summing it up.

Thank you to all of my friends and family who have supported me over the years. I know this is probably said way too often, but I really couldn't have done it without you. Your love and encouragement helped push me through the rough times. You reminded me day after day why I do what I do and helped me to never lose sight of my love and passion. Thank you. I owe all of this to you.

"If music be the food of love, play on"

-Shakespeare

SPEECHLESS!

IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!
more to come about THE first concert when I think of words other than awesome..........

I GOT A JOB! I GOT A JOB! I GOT A JOB!!!

I GOT A JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm the new 2nd bassoonist for the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra (BRSO).
I don't think I've stopped smiling for a week!! And at the rare moment when I have,
I think about playing for a symphony and it comes back! My first concert is 2 weeks from tomorrow. so for the next 8 months I'll be traveling to Baton Rouge for a week at a time.

I can't even explain how excited I am. Bryan gives me a hard time because he's convinced I wont' even be this excited when/if he ever proposes.....he's probably right. teehee :)
I finally won an audition! And I did in less than the average audition amount AND before my 5 year deadline (that I set for myself)!!! I'm so happy, and I'm sure there will be pictures and many many smiley face icons after my first concert!

so in the words of Melynda....."I won!!"

WINTER IN JULY

This was the big week for Katie's wedding!!! I drove the cakes up to Minneapolis on Wednesday and the cakes and I made it all in one piece. 

I also made it up in time for the bachelorette party on Wednesday night. I surprised Katie with a cake for that also. And I showed up with a few extra little gifts.....see if you can figure out what they are. 

Little did I know it was going to be cold when I got there!! There was some sort of freak cold front and it was a high of 60, cloudy, and windy!! I did not pack accordingly....I had to go buy a sweatshirt, and I wore it for 3 days straight. 

I also helped make wedding favors which consisted of 

coating 10 pounds of espresso beans in chocolate!! It took 3 hours and it took up the entire apartment!! We had beans coming out of our ears....never again. Maybe some day I'll look back on it and laugh, but not today. There are some pictures of the ordeal in the photo album along with many more from the trip. These few are just a preview of the awesome time I had, once again, in Minneapolis!

It was a bittersweet trip for all of us. It is very likely the last time we would all be together in Minneapolis. Many of my friends are spreading in various different directions at the end of the month. They have all been a huge part of my life and I love and will miss them all very much. it was a wonderful weekend and I will never ever forget it. 

BUSY BEE....

So I've been up to quite a bit since my last blog. Auditions, practicing, trips to Florida to see my parents. I'll try to post some pictures soon of the Florida trip. My mom has them, so I'll have to upload them from a different sight first. I have another audition coming up in August. I just found out about it a couple of days ago. It's for 2nd bassoon in the Illinois Symphony Orchestra in Bloomington. Could be interesting. It's 2nd bassoon so that always excites me. 

I've also been messing with my blog a little as you can tell. I'm still trying to work out some kinks, so it might change some more in the next couple of weeks. I'm very excited about it! It's like a scrapbook...sort of. 

I picked up a bassoon student a few weeks ago. She's 11 years old and just starting bassoon. She started on clarinet, so I'm happy to steer her in the right direction. :) We're trying to get her caught up with the rest of the band students before school starts so we're having 2 lessons a week. she's a lot of fun and very excited about playing the bassoon which makes me very excited about teaching her!! It's going well so far. 

In a few weeks I will be traveling up to Minneapolis again. I'm very excited because this time I will be going to see my dear friend Katie get married. And not only do I get to attend the wedding, but I get to make her wedding cake!! I'm nervous because I want it to be perfect for her, but also very excited.  I will start making them next weekend, freezing them and then icing them before I drive them up there. That way any repairs I need to do will probably be minimal. My only concern is that it might be slightly warm, and I don't want that to mess with the cake. I guess that's why I'm going a few days early......if a tragedy occurs I have plenty of time to fix it. But lets be honest.....I'm mostly going up there early so I can spend some time with my girls!!! :) 

I can't think of anything else that's going on that's too exciting. I've been in touch with a couple of old friends which is always fun. And I'm looking forward to the return of a couple of friends after their 3 year absence. They won't live right here in Oklahoma, but they'll at least be one state over....within driving distance. I won't have to hop a plane to go see them!!! That's all for now I guess. It seems as though I feel like I've been doing a lot more than I actually have in the last 3 months. Once I wrote it down it didn't seem like much. Until next time.....

MORE PICTURES!

I borrowed some of the pictures Holli took on my trip. So there are some new pictures in my Minneapolis album!