Thinking about after graduation

So I've been thinking about life after graduation and I've come to the conclusion that I'm looking forward to it. Whether it's staying home for a year and finding ways to keep myself immersed in music or being accepted to a doctoral program, I'm looking forward to a new adventure.

I've heard from the University of Florida and the University of California-Berkeley and both did not accept me as a phd student. Yes I am bummed about it but the more I reflect and the more I think about what I could do with a year off the more I think that it might be a wise decision. I worry about my loans that will be coming due, but I am skilled at finding employment so as long as I have a job I should be able to figure something out.

For now I continue to wait. Which is hard, but I have three more schools to hear from. Hopefully I'll have better luck.


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Spring Cleaning in Winter!

Okay, so I've decided to get rid of items in my home that don't use and sell them or give them away to people who need them.  So this post, which I will edit and re-post every time I get new ideas for stuff, will contain a list of things that I have that I would love to sell/give away. I'm also posting these items on Craigslist so if you want something let me know ASAP or someone else may beat you to it!

I have the following items:

-Art Portfolio with big clip board and paper, also includes a box with some art supplies in it.
-DVD Player that works, does have remote. Kinda big and bulky but it works. (Yay the first item I was able to give away)
-Apex Digitrex Digital Camera 3.2 mega pixels. It's old but it takes okay pictures for the mega pixels it has.
-Webcam. It's the snake kind. It's a usb plug in that you can bend to point where ever you want. Comes with a CD.
-2 USB Wireless laser mice. Both work well, both need AAA batteries.

I will look around my house more this weekend and add to this post.  Also let me know if there is something you need, maybe I can help you out.

A Quiet Day

So to catch everyone up, I had Gall Bladder removal surgery on Friday, so today is my last day to stay home and recover quietly before I dive back into my school work. I am so happy that I had the surgery because even though I am still sore at least I feel like eating anything.

I also recorded my masters project last weekend. It was an interesting experience. I know that I did good work but I will be nervous until I turn in the master copy to Keller for inspection. I think that it's a good project they are having us do but I worry constantly about the financial implications of a project this big. So far I have paid almost everyone their full fee so at least I don't have to worry about that.

I recorded 3 pieces the full Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano by Bohuslav Martinu, the full Sonata for Clarinet and Piano by Francis Poulenc and the first two movements of the Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano by Joseph Horovitz. I decided to leave the 3rd movement out because I didn't feel it was ready and I feel okay with that. I just want to hear the edit and make sure that I feel good about the work I did. It's a great process and I would definitely do it it again.

I actually have an idea for a project if I don't get into a doctoral school this year. I think that what I'd like to do is get involved with a musical society or historical society somewhere here in the valley and do some research projects for them. Then use the paper and hopefully recording that I do as some real world experience on my resume for doctoral schools.

I haven't heard from any of the graduate programs yet and that makes me nervous. I know that it's a bit early to know yet but I think that I should have a good shot. I hope. I think that if I have to take a year off that it might be a good thing. It might force me to take stock of what I have and what I want to attain in my life.

Honestly I just want to continue my education and be that much closer to my career but I have a nasty feeling that I'm not going to be able to do that.

I've been also doing well on my weight loss for the last 4 weeks. I have a feeling I'm going to gain this week because of the surgery though. I've been eating less veggies and more carbs because carbs were easy to eat after surgery. I'm doing well today about eating things that will fill me up for less PointsPlus values.

Well since it's a quiet day for me today I will leave you will a quiet picture. See Ya. This makes me want to go to the beach
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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.

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.

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!

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.