Day 1 of Our Colombian Adventure 7/27/11

6:30AM to 11AM

We were guided from building to building and office to office on a wonderful scavenger hunt.

We were required to pay money and/or go find a place to make copies after almost every visit. We dealt with three or four very friendly people, several very indifferent people, and one person in customs with an attitude problem and on obvious hatred of dogs from the United States.

Our grand prize was a very tired dog name Nika who had been in her crate since 1:30 pm the day before. That is 24 hours of her frantic and wondering if we had abandoned her.

She still loves us.

Just completed the Finale concert of Sinfonietta's Inaugural Season.

Wheeeee!!

Updated Concert Dates

I've updated my concert dates.

Concerts!

I've been playing with two orchestras, and a woodwind quintet. It's pretty rockin'.

I've added a list of upcoming concerts to my blog, so check 'em out!

Hopefully I'll be adding more concerts soon!

animals!

I've been teaching the kiddos again! I like them. 

No not this kind of kid! You know...bassoony kids!

I still want a dog. 

Or a large elk thing.

My bassooning is getting more consistent, and I'm enjoying it.  

I'm ready -and excited- for Christy to get on down here. Almost as excited as this guy was for a few bitty fishes. 

Sorry for the delay of update. I have more pictures to post soon!

Slow and steady wins the race, right? Although this lil' dude was truckin' it pretty impressively for a tortoise.

Bye Bye !!!!!!!!

P.S.  I'm pretty sure that baby goats prefer paper bags to the actual food inside them. 

fotos!

"Happiness!"

  

                                                                     "The Escape"

"A Wednesday Afternoon Drive"

Chewy

We had a big dog in today at work.
His body had been recently sheared for summer. I don't know if dogs are sheared or just shaved, but I like sheared.
Anyway. Big dog. Super fuzzy head.
His name was Chewy. And he looked just like... Chewy.


Ok, after seeing this... I suppose he was cuter than Chewy.

My first result on google image search was scandalous. I guess it was the second one. "Chewy." It was a funny picture,
but the blog it was in was actually about how much the blogger hates redheads. Great.

strange new readings

I've always loved reading. Always. And I do read. Always.
I think it's a problem- If there was a readers' anonymous
I would probably need to join.
One day I listened to an interview
with an author on NPR, and he was talking about being a writer.
He said the main requirement is that you have to read.
A lot. He said he always has a book with him- because you never know when
you're going to be stuck in a long line. I'd always wondered if other people felt like that- and I'd assumed that they did, but it was great to hear.

So, I often go through phases when I read everything-or most things-
by an author that I've just discovered, or that someone has told me about.
This has happened with kurt vonnegut, garbiel garcia marquez, barbara kingsolver,
isabel allende, and the other standard sets, of course-Pullman's his dark materials, harry potter, the chronicals of narnia. (Do you italicize sets? I think so, but I'm not sure.)
While many of those are full of fantasy realism, and maybe some, vonnegut, are a bit science fiction-y at times, I've never really gotten into science fiction novels. I've tried, and haven't really enjoyed them. And then Brad gave me Ender's Game to read. and I did. Then Songmaster. And I did. Then, Dune, and I really liked it. Now I'm going to have to read so many books just to get caught up on all of these that I never thought I would enjoy.

Sigh.

Shelties, Corgis, and the Never Ending Stream of Shit-tzus

Hello, Summer.

I love you for your sunshine and offerings of swimming and roadtrips.

I love you for your lack of middle and high school students.

But, I need them. Can I have them back please?

I enjoyed teaching this year, the end of the year was a bit of a let down, because every school finished lessons at different times, and I never knew if that week would be the last lesson for a student.

I have some really talented students, and a few of them are taking lessons this summer. I'm happy to teach them, it's good money and I'll keep up my skillz, as well as improve theirs, but I wish I had a few more. I think the economy right now is hurting my chances there. Most parents right now do not want to pay $16 for a half hour music lesson. And I understand. Music really does just work for some kids, and for those kids, and the parents who understand that, I am happy to be teaching.


To make up for the lack of students in the summer, I got a job. As a pet nurse!
I hold down dogs, run blood work, and generally follow people around asking them to show me how to do stuff. They aren't really interested in that, but I have to keeping pushing or I'll never learn how to do things on my own. Often, I find myself feeling really out of my element- for so many years of my life I have been completely immersed in the music world. At a very high level. It is strange to be at an entry level again, interesting to learn something completely new. The best part, after the dogs, which I love, is that I get to monitor and/or observe surgeries! I didn't know I would be excited about that until I was in the room for the first one. Would I pass out? Would I find myself nauseous- and embarrassed? It was fascinating. Who would of thought?


Next post will be chock full of pictures and tales of glory. Until then, a bit of the story, haiku style:


waters cool and strong
the mass of people floats on
spf 80

Back in the Saddle Again

Howdy Folks!!

If you will be in the DFW on June 20th, I'm playing a concert with
the New Texas Symphony. http://www.ntso.org/concerts Ticket price is $15, and you order them through the website. If you don't want to do that, let me know and I can get them for you at a rehearsal. I think. Thanks!

Lol cats. yes. I like them.

it's the shape you found me in.

i can't sleep.
my tummy hurts.
yes, tummy.
my apartment is clean.
er.
I don't like the songs on
my sleep playlist.
tonight.
too much cleaning.
changes my taste in music.
i think i'll listen to bob.
it's 1:15.
a.m.

42 Days

42 Days Since My Last Post. So, to make up for it, some randomness.


Easter! Haven't had a post about Easter yet. I spent it in Madill. I wore a big hat.


Birthday: I fed Giraffes! Brad has a picture somewhere of this. I'll have to track it down. Went to Oklahoma, Charlestons, and Frontier City.

School is almost out. I've been applying for jobs, and hoping that I'll still be able to teach a few lessons this summer.

Those of you who have been a part of "the laura experience" for a while know
how much I've wanted a slanket, despite their ridiculousness, for quite a while now.
My dreams came true, and Christy got me one for my birthday!! Yay!


The song In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is one of those songs that make me happy and sad at the same time. If you don't know it, you should. I shouldn't be stingy with it. You can't listen to it here, but you can listen to some other songs on the album, which are also really great.

I'm taking a class this summer at UTA. I guess I'll be a Maverick for a while, but always a Sooner at heart. Sorry Seminoles. You were good to me, too.

Hm... My hair is getting really long again. It's time for a trim.

I need to see Christy soon. I think it'll happen.

At Laaaaaaast. My love has come along. My lonely days are over, and life is like a song. Thank you Etta James.

Alright, I'll admit I'm that dramatic at times, but I just know that all of you been wondering what's going on with my new apartment, so here ya go! This is all you get.

AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

My nephew is just so freakin cute I don't know what to do with myself. Check him out.

Some updates!

I've been enjoying bassoon a lot lately, although not enjoying the joint pain that I believe is the result of the repetitive practice I've been doing. 

I've become addicted to this blog about vet school in Melbourne. Australia. 

I had a really great weekend with Brad and his brothers and sisters(in-law).

If Brad and his oldest brother would  quit accidentally dressing alike maybe it would have been slightly less confusing. 

I went to an actual real live orchestra concert on Friday night! Not a high school orchestra! yay!

It was the Dallas Symphony- and they were great. They played Candide, which I absolutely love.  I think I might love it because it takes me back so quickly - I can think of all of the times I have played it. Or most of them. Okay at least four of them. And I love it. 

Also, it was an Idol concert. Yes, american idol. The second half was the DSO accompanying four american idol people. It was suprisingly good. We went crazy. There might have been some scandalousness involved. Or, perhaps just some cheesy dancing on their part. They sang quite well though, and as I said to Amy, I think in the future I will only go to concerts that involve orchestra accompaniment. I dont want to type myself out of a good future concert here, but it was neat.

 If you're curious, the singers were Gina  Glockson?.. Phil Stacey, Melinda Dolittle, and Chickezie.  I liked Gina the best, even though I'm not sure of her last name. 

This has been the longest update I've done in quite a while. Maybe I'm back in the swing of blogging. Only tomorrow will tell.

Sorry for the lack of pictures, I'm workin on it. 

Sleep time!

Feelin Happy.

HELLOOOOO SPRING BREAK!

Spring break means:

That I dont get paid for a full week of lessons.

I guess I should enjoy every second, just to make it worth the loss.

Whoop!

Worst Weather Ever

This is the worst day in HISTORY. Alright, maybe recent history. Instead of going into that, I think I would rather channel The Sound of Music and list a few of the things that would be better than being here right now.

1) Hanging out with Bradley.
2) Sitting in front of a fireplace, or anywhere with a working TV.
3)Chillin' with Paige. Or any member of her extended family.
4)Kidnapping Parker
5)A phone call from my sister. Or Ava.
6)Talking to adults, or anyone older than middle school age.
7)drinking Moroccan Mint sweet iced tea at All Saints. Preferably with Christy.
8)Enjoying happy hour at the Library, a la 2004
9)Purchasing a microwave
10)researching gardening techniques for the vegetable garden I can't have because I dont have a yard.
11)browsing petfinder.com
12)driving to portland
13)catching the subway in NYC
14)downloading music. legally.
15)eating girlscout cookies
16)singing. loudly. somewhere sunny.

Okay.

I feel better. Even though I'm not foing any of these things. So...maybe I feel worse?

A Week Lost

This has been a long week of nothingness.  No money, no clothes by pajamas, no hanging out with Brad, no apartment hunting. No reed making and practicing.  No donuts.  Barely any reading. 

Why? Ooooh sickness.  

But I say NO MORE. I am DONE. Well, at least that's what the doctor says. Monday morning it is BACK TO WORK. I can not afford this sickness business. I'm going to start teaching in a mask. No, Bradley, not a Spongebob or Frankenstein.