Sickness

So, I went to the health center after a week of not feeling the best and discovered that its not just a feeling and that I am actually sick. I have had to skip 2 classes of music theory (a quiz and 2 assignments), piano proficiency, dictation (a test day), mission prep, private lessons, and sight singing. This is positively ridiculous. I feel like i have more work to make up than was probably assigned. grrr. Now I know we grew up as kids who when your sick you push through and go to school but to skip this many classes is insane. The drugs make me feel great so i feel i could probably go but the doctor signed me off for 6 days (of which i am taking 3). The other factor is i am going to be missing wind symphony. A class i never EVER miss, but apparently i must. anyway just figured id rant and rave a little. I personally think ill be fine by friday night but i guess well see.

oh and by the way jon this definentaly breaks my new years resolution of not missing more than 5 classes.

Birthday Party

Well, my roomies and I decided to throw a birthday party as it occurred over the break and all. So we made cakes, food and many other sweets. It was also centered partially around DDR which i am soooo glad i brought back with me this year. Heres the pics with commentary...



This is my living room after the lovely D and T(my roomie) decorated it with amazing helium balloons of different shapes and sizes. Oh and if you look closely on the tree the rings of colors are glow sticks. (we recreated the feeling of being new years eve.)









I made crazy bread, which you can tell was half eaten before the party started. T(my roomie) made Texas Sheet Cake on the right. D and T then made meatballs spiced with Jamaica Hot Sweet and Crazy Sauce (sooo good), and then spicy queso with chips. and always as with any 21 year olds party a few Martinelli bottles.








So we then took a group photo.
Top layer : D (T's Fiance), T (my roomie), Z ("Band" Friend)

Middle layer : S (Old Roomie), me, M and L (2 friends from back at the BC)

Bottom layer: MD (my section leader), J (New Roomie)

Behind the Camera: M (New Roomie)







Blowing out the candles on the texas sheet cake. I ended up slowly blowing them out, anyone from our family would have called it a fairly weak attempt. The funny thing i found out later was that they were trick candles. The box said only a tornado could blow this out. hahaha. Oh and if you look closely my earrings are glow sticks. amazingness.








I wanted some Martinelli, and someone yelled take the bottle, From there it went to chug the bottle, and From there it went to funnel the bottle. So as any normal 21 year old would do i funneled a bottle. granted thank goodness S was pouring cause she gave me plenty of time to gulp.








It seems only a few are truly gifted at DDR so we found a easier new innovative way to allow all of us to play. It was a ton of fun, but I know the apartment below us must have been hating us ;)














Here is Z and T posin' before gettin down with DDR.













T was very proud of her A with a circle, Z was a bit less proud and decided to drown his sorrows with MY glass of Martinelli.















After that we did a bit of dancing around, inhaling helium balloons, and going crazy. And we all had an amazing new year.

Classes

My classes and opinions of them so far

Music Theory --> I have a different teacher and he is quite different from my last teacher. He requires a lot more quick knowledge. With my last one we would do a ton of homework and the new one gives only one problem each class and then we practice on recognizing certain chord progressions in a hurry.

Dictation --> Way too easy but also taught a little differently. I am not allowed to say 5 7 i have to say a dominant 7 chord. Soo its taking a little getting used to.

Sight singing --> super easy

Wind Symphony --> The music for euphonium is super hard this year. Im gonna have to step up and practice a lot more

Private Lessons, Tuba Euph Ensemble --> fairly easy, I've already practiced 7 hrs this first week, so ill need to step it up.

Mission Prep --> i'm learning quite a bit, but to me it seems fairly strait forward. It's more just re familiarizing myself with the field

Korean/Japanese Culture Class --> I thought they would be teaching us how to act in the countries but it seems more like a history class so far. I'll probably learn more about how to act from my friends who have been there.

University Band, Intro to careers in music ed --> haven't had it yet


Those are my classes soo far. Overall a fairly easy semester.

CHRISTMAS

Sorry, it took me so long to write again, school has been hectic. For those of you who didn't know i spent my Christmas w/ the rest of the younger kids in my family. It involved a lot of reading, completing puzzles, and above all relaxing. We got to go caroling in a semi-jewish neighborhood. I was amazed at how many people sat there in plain sight watching tv and decided not to open the door and at least take a plate of cookies. Here are a couple of the very few pics from the break. It was difficult considering my fam isn't the most photogenic of people.




Here is a lovely pic of my sis and her recently (to me) highlighted hair.








Jon makin faces at the camer







Occasionally when the other kids were reading i would get bored and attempt to take various posed shots. well it did do its job to entertain me.







Here is another of my brothers working on the puzzle that I believe Jamie had received for Christmas.







For my birthday we went to Body Worlds which was absolutely amazing. I can't imagine how much work it was to separate every muscles and keep the whole body intact. In other words its super easy to make a mistake when dissecting and those bodies were perfectly prepared. Although the idea that our bodies can be plasticized is kinda creepy and weird. After that we went home and relaxed till midnight and had root beer floats as an alternative beverage to bring in the new year.