Kurt Vonnegut on the Arts

I love this video of Kurt Vonnegut. Scoot yourself ahead to about 6 minutes.

Anyone who participates in any sort of art...should completely watch this.  It's only about 2 minutes long (well, the discussion of art from minutes 6-8)...the entire video is about one hour.

Best,

What A Night

Last evening I had the distinct pleasure of going down to my trombone professor's house and surprising him with a gift and a visit from two other section members.

I thought it would only be a one hour thing and that Vance would have a lesson at 7pm after my supposed lesson.  But it wasn't and he didn't.

I think Jason and I left around 11pm?

So what do you do, in small town Midwest, until 11pm?  You sit and hear awesome stories.  You get a tour of Vance's farm and hear about its history.  You eat pizza with friends.  You, in essence, have a really good time.

Throughout college, I had an "okay" time.  I didn't hate it, but it wasn't like "oh-my-gosh-these-are-the-best-years-of-my-life-let's-do-college-foreverrrrrrrrrrrr".  And, to be honest, I'm completely okay with that.    There were a few things that I particularly enjoyed.

One:
These girls:

Two:
These folks:

Three:
Which were part of this ensemble:

And yes, of course there were other things that I really liked about college (I really enjoyed being in all of the ensembles), but there were a lot of things that I thought were problems that should be fixed.  A lot of politics.  And, mannnnnn, politics just aren't cool.  Especially when they influence your education and the quality of your education.

I mean, hey, it's my thousands of dollars and my time spent doing homework. I want the best damn education I can get..especially since I'm paying for it.

But I digress.

Last night was a lot of fun. I hope to do something similar to it again sometime this summer.

Best,

Welcomed

Today was a good day.

And not like an "Ice Cube" kind of good day,
but just a good day.

Work went well.  I baked a ton of things* which is always an absolute joy.  I talked with some co-workers  I haven't been able to talk with in a while.  (It's a sad truth, how one can sometimes make their best contacts shortly before they have to leave).

From work, I went home and walked puppybutt/Koda.
From there we went to see Grandma and her pups.

I always enjoy seeing my Grandma, it's such a pleasant and relaxing experience.

Then I went to Nathan's parents' house to pick up the key (I'm letting the dog out on Saturday and Sunday).  I also always enjoy talking with Nathan's Mom.

She's undeniably one of the most genuinely kind ladies I've had the fortune of meeting.

Dropped Koda back off at the apartment and went home for dinner (and application printing!).

More than anything, I enjoy sitting with my parents.  We don't even necessarily have to be engaged in a conversation.  It's one of those situations where just sitting somewhere and knowing that you're wanted there and loved, that means a lot.  The apartment can get a little lonely at times, but knowing that I have a family that will take me at any point, that means a lot.

Even if Twerp** wasn't there to harass me.

It was a day of acceptance and I am so thankful for everyone.

My apologies for the super corny post.  Sometimes it's just nice to write about the things that you're thankful for, rather than the things you're feeling critical of.

Oh, and Koda-update.

He's much better.

Koda plopped himself in this chair, the one Nathan used to sit in before he left, a mere 12 hours after Nathan took off.  It's now Koda's "go to" spot.

Oh, and Nathan and Andrea picture....for the sake of being cheesy:

And finally, a good post should end with a hint of Buddha.

Peace out!


*Blueberry Crumble Bars, Lemon-Almond Biscotti dipped in chocolate, hazelnut syrup, and homemade peanut butter cups/tortes.
** AKA Little Brother

Large Spaces

It's funny how you can take one thing out of a room, and instantly it feels larger...more empty...and more lonely.

Photos of a Graduation

Well, commencement has come and gone.  I don't have a whole lot to say yet, as not much has happened outside of the ceremonies.  So, I'll let my photos speak for themselves:

These two are perhaps the best folks a person could meet up with if one was having a bad day.  While we jokingly call each other "not so kind" names......these two girls are awesome.

We are the senior trombones.  I was blessed when I get to play next to these three.  They're all excellent musicians and individuals in their own ways.  We have easily spent into the hundreds of hours together at rehearsals and traveling.  It's hard not to enjoy someone after that much time together.

This is the CIVITAS class of 2012.  Civitas is the honors program.  We're the second class to graduate from it. 

Ah, mah friends.  These two girls were the first ones to befriend me at Augustana and we've kept in touch ever since.  On the left you can see how we were 3 years ago compared to the girls we are now on the right.  Okay, to be honest, we're still giant goof-balls, the gowns and mortarboards just make us look exceptionally intelligent.

Oh Augustana, it's been fun (sometimes).  I will always have both fond and fearsome memories of you.  But the greatest things are the opportunities that are presented to me now, as a graduate.  So of course I'll remember the past and everything I learned....but I look so forward to the future.

Until then...

-A

(I apologize for the not very interesting entry....I'll make it up by having some awesome links at the bottom from now on)

Good Food: Three Cheese Beet Ravioli by Eat, Live, Run.com

Good Drink: Melon Agua Fresca (for a hot day) by SmittenKitchen.com

I'm a Teacher! (Almost)

My undergraduate career is finally coming to a close. Well, almost finally coming to a close.  I have one honour's project left to do this summer and then I will be officially done.  The trickiest part of all of this is that I yet have a job.  However, from my understanding, teaching hiring goes all the way into summer and right up to the next fall.....so no worries?

Okay, small worries. But nothing to get upset about.

Yesterday, I was talking with Mitch at Queen City Bakery  about a few of the states that I have applied to work in.  While he definitely is staunch in his opinion on some states, and while I might not completely agree with all of his opinions, he did give me an incredible kernel of wisdom,

"You don't know how good your first job is going to be;  how much you're going to enjoy it.  The best thing you can do is make sure that you're in an area that you love living in when you're not working."


While it saddens me to think that I may not find the "job of my dreams" on the first go-around, he made a good point.  I've lived in the Upper Midwest my entire life.  It's beautiful here. The people are kind and hard-working (most of the time).  But it is time for me to approach life from a new angle, and why not start right away?  Thus, I have applications ranging from Oregon to Maine...but the main operative is to land in an area that is slightly mountainous (to very mountainous) with a lot of outdoor opportunities as well.

So, that's currently on the radar.

Also, after wanting a dog for approximately 10+ years, I finally have the time and location to have one.  With the coming of graduation I have moved into the upper level of a house.
Thus, meet Koda.

I adopted him from the Humane Society.  He is part Weimaraner, part Australian Shepherd.

He had a ridiculously rough start, thus has been sleeping a lot.   With the help of a great veterinarian friend, he is on the fast-track to getting better though.  We hope that, within a week, we will be able to do walks and other exciting outdoor activities with him.

Alas, it is time for me to go explore the world of cleaning out the dormitory.  I hope to do regular updates (perhaps every Thursday and Monday) incorporating daily life, coffee, recipes, and arranging/composing works in progress.

Best,
A

Snow Days

Even as a student teacher or a teacher,

Waiting for snow days is one of the most gut wrenching experiences.

Mostly because you want them just as badly as the kiddos.