Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. ~Berthold Auerbach

Happy Summer Break!! I love this being home all the time thing! I have started running every day, playing my guitar and violin, cleaning my room (yeah that's not true, it should be NOT cleaning my room), applying for jobs, playing tennis, etc...I've been able to spend a few days with my friend Elissa who is a-ma-zing at the guitar, and she's been teaching my a bunch of stuff. Right now I'm working on Jason Wade's You Belong to Me and James Taylor's Fire & Rain. I am actually making some progress, which is good. I need all the progress I can get! Also since the break I have played my violin in church once, and now am practicing to play at a baptism.

Oh yeah, I've been baking some too. (weird, I know...) But please don't ask me anything about Big Ben...or anything about England for that matter. That is still a touchy subject. Ice cream cakes and "gourmet" chocolate cupcakes from scratch, however, are still okay to talk about.

I reserve the right to display these pictures and not comment about them...

Apparantly...however, it has not helped with my creative writing skillz (yes Skyler, Sarah, and Charmaine, with a "z"). So instead, I will just post a few pics and get outta here. !

The Job-Hunt Continues!!

Alright, well, since I am now mostly unemployed...the time came a few weeks ago to begin looking for a job. So far, I have applied to:

• Panera Bread (I would LOVE this one)
• Check n' Go (payday loans?)
• Reliable Toyota Lexus BMW Audi Scion Superstore - Receptionist (do you think they'd even let me drive my car on the property?)
• Arc of the Ozarks - working with children with Autism (I would LOVE this one as well)
• Assistive Technology Program at school (this one is a GA, yeah it would be amazing!)
• ...I think that's it. No. There's a few more, I just can't remember..

My last possibility is getting a GA for one of my professors that would be this Spring and Summer, and with that comes the possibility of teaching an undergrad course in the fall. Hmmm, how great would that be??? I won't find out about that one till July, however, and its not very likely :(
Anyway, if anyone has some great ideas, or hookups in Springfield MO for me, let me know! If not...I guess I'll just keep playing my guitar and cleaning my room, too bad I can't get paid to do that.

...Oh yeah, I guess I could be working on my thesis too huh...?

More recipes!!!!

When I went home this weekend I tried out two new recipes for our Mother's Day dinner. For the main course we had Lime-Curry Tofu Stir-Fry. Don't let the name scare you away. It was a dish of firsts for me...first time cooking in a wok, and first time cooking with tofu. As much as I don't like tofu, that part of it wasn't bad at all...and the meal was delicious!!

The second new recipes I made was White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake. Yum. Really I don't have to say much more about that. It was really good. It was also very healthy*!! Don't worry, it tasted better than it looks, I should have spread out the raspberry sauce nicer I think, but its OK right?

*No. That was a lie. It wasn't healthy in any way. It was incredibly good though.

"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible." - Marion C. Garetty

Oooh I love to be home. I went home Sunday morning to celebrate mothers day with my family. I had finals, clinic, church, etc... last week, so I wasn't able to make it home on the real mother's day. I am so glad I was able to come home, even if it was just for a quick two day trip.

I am so grateful for my mom. She is not only a great mom, but also my best friend. I am so lucky to have the relationship with her that I do. When i came home this Sunday, we literally talked for about seven hours straight!
I love that I am able to tell her everything. I love that she always knows just what to say. I love that she always knows the right thing to do. I love the advice that she gives me. I love her high expectations. I love everything she has taught me. I love that she is always willing to help me with whatever I need. I love that she is always there for me. I love that she is so smart. I love how she encourages me. I love that she is such a good example. I love that she works hard and teaches us to work hard.
Basically, I could go on forever. The fact is, I love my mom so much! So, thanks Mom. Thanks for everything. Thank you for all that you do!! I hope that someday I can be as good a mom to my children as you are!!

Second Year Grad!

*Warning: this blog contains a large amount of (parentheses). If that bothers you, you better not continue...

Ahhhh the first day of finals. Words cannot describe the joy that that brings.
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Oh WAIT! I already finished my finals!!Instead of a finals week I had a whole month of intense stress and craziness! Here's a few fun pictures that really described my life for much of April :)I'm definitely the one on the far right...

My roommate found me like this multiple times.

yeah, not uncommon...

Instead of a red bull, replace that with either an apple or a cup of fat-free hot chocolate. That's how I survived the month!!

However...all that is over, and now my break has begun. I started my week of freedom off by making a list and crossing EVERYTHING on the list off. Its been crazy to have this much time, but I really enjoy it (and my apartment is much cleaner too!!)

I was planning on having a long and relaxing break (all three weeks of it), but after meeting with my boss/thesis adviser I found out that I am going to be starting that on Thursday, as well as another job with my professor for the summer (which I am incredibly grateful for)!

Alas, the busy-ness continues, and I am so happy about it. I hope to be able to take some time for my violin and guitar over the break however :)
Well, until next time...

Turnin' turnin' love keeps a-burnin'

Last Wednesday (May 5th), my friends Curtis, Kara and her friend Sheila (formerly Osmond but I don't know her married name) and I went to see The Osmond Show in Branson! It was so great!!
I was so so excited, and it was awesome! We were definitely the youngest ones there by far, but we had such a blast!! Sheila was so nice to take me! She just met me a few days before, but Kara told her that I was a big fan, so we went! (and lets be honest, there are perks going with Merrill's daughter!)


Just for comparison's sake, here's a video of my favorite Osmond song, Yo Yo-I'm pretty sure I've watched this one a thousand times! I just can't get over the outfits, the dancing, the hair, etc... :)

And here is that same song (I missed the beginning of it) now, about 35 or so years later! Still so great!!

They put on a really good show; its obvious that they are professional performers/entertainers. I am so glad we went, even if our group were the only ones under...60!
Oh yeah, that picture is top is definitely signed and on my wall in my living room now :)

...its a wonder I even have friends...