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So here is my new agenda for the time being: Work, Save and Research. That is the plan.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Yay!

So I guess it's been too long since I have spent money on DVD's or CD's for myself. I went to Portland today and went to Portland Music, the Dutch Store and Fry's. It was really fun.

I do think though that this term will be a good one if I can stay on top of things. So I think that tomorrow, after my Weight Watchers meeting, I will come home to finish laundry, do my Jazz Arranging homework and then go to the library to finish my other homework.

Hopefully I'll get in some practice time too. My instrument is pretty isn't it.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

What day is this?

What day is it? Thursday? No, today is Wednesday.
It's a wonder what a difference a day makes. So I woke up thinking it was Thursday. That changes my schedule quite a bit. First I thought I had rehearsal at 9am, nope no rehearsal. So I went to work. Then I thought that I was working til 12. Nope, I have class at 11. I realized this when it was 11:05 and I had to -run- to class. I don't run. By the time I got there I was out of breath and probably looked like a big red, wheezing tomato. At least I didn't miss something detrimental to my grade. This time.

It's interesting when another term gets started how much I actually have to do. I love school. I like learning and researching but for some reason the break went by too fast and now I feel a bit displaced. The house is not as clean as it normally is at the beginning of a term which makes me feel really disorganized. Maybe I should make that my mission this week. In addition to doing my homework and practicing I should try to clean and organize so that everything feels better for this term.
So this picture is actually a couple years old but I think that this picture is fitting to my mood. It's cold outside and we never really got any snow this December so I feel kind of cheated (I know Erica hates snow but I secretly love it!). This picture makes me think of things that are crisp and clean. Like a new beginning.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

One Step Closer

I am one step closer to having all of my doctoral applications in.  All I need to do is finish my personal statement for the University of Michigan in order to submit my online application.  Which means I am one step closer to graduation!  I am looking forward to closing this chapter of my life and moving onto a new one.

So here is my cat, Leo. Who decided he didn't want to be petted with my hand but with my foot.  He's weird. Which is why I love him. Enjoy!




Monday, January 3, 2011

Good Samaritan vs. Cat

Okay so today was the first day of school.  All went well with my classes and everything was fine.  So Erica, my roommate, and I decided we should go get groceries.  So we got in my car and drove to one of the Salem Wal-Mart's and got groceries.  This grocery trip took about 3 hours.  I think that is the longest I have ever spent in Wal-Mart looking for groceries and hygiene items.  But it was a well needed trip so I didn't think too much about it, until we both had full carts going out to my car and we had a fun time stuffing my car full of groceries.

The drive home was fine.  Once we got home we had the enormous task of taking everything inside, which took many trips.  Before we actually started lugging in the groceries we heard a cat meowing somewhere outside. Mind you it's really cold out so we think that it's just complaining about the cold so we go on with our business.  After a couple trips I decide I can't take it anymore this cat sounds pitiful and I venture out with Erica at my heals to find it. 

What we found was a cat who was laying in the parking lot next to the apartment, crying.  When we approached the cat it instantly wanted us to come closer and kept meowing at us.  Unfortunately it was in no shape to move.  Both of its back legs weren't working, probably broken, and it tried to move toward us and cried for our help.  So being the Good Samaritans we are I stayed out with the cat and called my friend Eric while Erica went to get a phone book.  Finally we just had to go into the house and find the numbers to call the emergency clinics and vets in the area to figure out what we could do.  We wanted to help it but we couldn't risk making our cats sick by bringing it in the house so we had to figure out a way for someone to come and get it or for us to take it somewhere. 

Finally, we get ahold of the Dallas Vet Clinic and the vet tells us that the only thing to do is bring it to him and put the poor thing out to save it from suffering.  Well, even though this is not the response I wanted to hear I decided that maybe it would be best and maybe the vet could help it anyway. 

This is where the weird part happens.  So we gather the carrier and some towels and go outside to get the the cat and take it to the vet.

It isn't where we left it.
We looked in the parking lot.
Under cars, trees and everything around.
Still no cat.

We also didn't hear any meowing or crying.  Everything was silent.  Where did this cat go!!!!????

So I called the vet and told him the cat vanished and he thanked us for trying.  So we went into the house and decided that while we were trying to find numbers and figure out what to do, someone else must have come and took the cat away and helped it.  That's the story I'm believing!

So I still have no idea were the cat is but I hope that it's with some people who are helping it.


So the sad part about this story is that the cat we found looks just like Leo, my tiger kitty.  So I do really hope that the cat got rescued by other Good Samaritans.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Back to School Tomorrow....woot?

For some weird reason I am not ready to go back to school tomorrow. I think it's because this break was really busy for me and I didn't get to have much of a break.  If I just had another week maybe then I would be ready to go back to WOU.

I also think it's because I have so much to do. Finish my doctoral applications, practice hard for tracking in February, practice for concerto auditions in February, go to the doctor, have surgery and go to school and work. Its a bit much.  Sometimes I just really want to be done with school and get on with a career but other times I just want to stay in school, mostly because I've done it my whole life and it's comfortable.  Yet, I know that for what I want to do with my life I have another 4-6 years of school.  If only I could just skip ahead a little bit, but alas, no.

On another subject at least the routine of school with help me with my weight loss. I always have better success if I am in a routine.  So I guess I'm looking forward to some aspects of being in school.

So I added these pictures because in thinking about school starting again tomorrow I am thinking about the schools that I am applying for my PhD. I went to California in October and saw the campus at University of California at Berkeley and met with a couple of the music faculty. I fell in love with Berkeley and San Fransisco.  When I look at this picture I'm reminded of where I want to be someday and of what I want to accomplish.  So maybe I am ready for school to start, if only because I want this part to come sooner. The part that gets me closer to Doctoral school.  I really hope I get into UC Berkeley, it would be one of the greatest opportunities ever.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

January 1st, 2011... The Start of a New Year

I think that some people think of a new year as a clean slate, the ability to start something new or the opportunity to fix problems that occur in ones life. I think of the new year as an extension of the old. January 1st is just another day but it is a day to reflect on what has happened over the last year and what, if anything, could be changed and what should be done in the coming year.

I have decided that I want to do a couple things this year that will help me on my way through life.

1. Live my life.  I think that sometimes I get caught up in the day to day aspects of life too often. Finances, careers and household chores.  I want to take a day out of every week or month to have fun. To just go somewhere or do something fun for myself.

2. Give myself the opportunity to be healthier and more focused. This is something that I strive to do every year but this year, with it being my last year at Western Oregon University, it is important that I solidify this now.   I will continue with my weight loss path through Weight Watchers and hopefully achieve my first major weight loss goal this year, my 10% goal.

3.  Pay my debts.  This is something that I have thought about a lot and I think that it's time to start paying everything, even if only in small amounts. I owe so much in loans for my education that I think if I don't start paying it a little now that I won't be able to live comfortably when I have my career. So this is my goal. To pay a little, even if it's only $10, on each debt I owe every month. This is definitely doable.

These are the three major changes that I want to implement this year.  I also want to utilize my latest present and post a video or picture everyday.  This will, hopefully, give me an appreciation for the everyday life around me.

Here is my friend Eric's cat Milo, who is deaf. He's so cute!

Until next time!