Tuesday, December 23, 2008

35 Random facts about yours truly

I have been inspired by Carissa to list things about myself. I also have a few hours to kill before leaving for the holidays and there's not much else to do here!

1. I have the best fiance in the WORLD. He is the coolest kid I've ever met.
2. I REALLY want another tattoo - on my wrist, but that REALLY can't happen anytime soon because a) I'm broke. b)the wrist is NOT the best place for a pastor's wife to have a tattoo... c)I'm pretty sure my mom would hate it
3. I want the conch of my right ear pierced and I ALMOST did it this summer in Gatlinburg, but the first place we looked at said they would only do it with a hoop...and the second place said it would be an hour wait and $20 more than the first place, so I said NO WAY. Then when I moved to Louisville, I realized how broke I was and haven't had the extra cash around yet to do it.
4. I'm trying to figure out if I've outgrown the piercing phase of my life
5. I love cookie dough. I don't care how bad it is for you.
6. I am going to have cholesterol problems when I get older because of my daily cheese intake.
7. I am much smarter than I let myself think. Even after amazing grades in Seminary, I still just think I'm "good at school"
8. Bryan wants to kill me for those thoughts
9. I am SUPER organized
10. I LOVE wedding planning
11. Registering for gifts is not my favorite thing because I hate asking people to spend that much money on stuff. Granted I know we "need" it or whatever, but it's just a lot.
12. I have the most fun family on the planet. It makes me sad to hear that others don't have such a good relationship with their families because I've been blessed with a fantastic one.
13. My little brother is the most fun little brother I could ever ask for.
14. I wish he called me more often though
15. I love that I get my knack for nicknames from my daddy.
16. My mom is super woman.
17. I mean it.
18. I really like living in Louisville, I just wish I had more good friends here.
19. Not that I'm complaining about my friends here, but I really don't have many I can call and go to Denny's with.
20. And one of the girls on that list *the top of it actually* just moved away...
21. My granddad is really sick and in the hospital.
22. I don't want him to die, but I know he's been ready for awhile and it's really hard to watch him suffer and not really know what's going on.
23. I love JESUS!!!!!!!
24. I am constantly amazed at how faithful God is even when I have been unfaithful to Him.
25. I LOVE CHRISTMAS! Mainly because I get to spend time with my family. The Bartlows know how to have a good time!
26. My least favorite "holiday" used to be New Years Eve because I have only really had 1 fun New Years eve, but NOW I LOVE IT because the 1st is Bryan's birthday! So we'll be able to have birthday parties for him instead of New Years parties and birthday parties are MUCH more fun!
27. I'll be 24 on March 18!
28. I didn't realize how much I loved softball until playing slow-pitch in Morgantown for 2 summers and then this summer in Man.
29. Short stop is my new favorite position.
30. I'm really good at it!
31. I have not bought a SINGLE Christmas present...which sucks cause the fiance wants books for his birthday too...and those books come from Amazon.
32. Shaun *lil brudder* and I will go Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve as we have since I got my license and was allowed to drive in Cincinnati by myself.
33. That is one brother/sister tradition that will probably always stay in place.
34. This year, he has to buy all of our parents presents because I have exactly $130 for Christmas...
35. Yeah, I'm finding a new job after the new year. For REAL this time ya'll!

Ok! 35 is enough!
Carissa - I have NO idea how you did 101!

I 'spose it's time to pack and get clean for the start of CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

Monday, December 22, 2008

Seminary grades

My first semester of Seminary has been over since December 5th. I had a crazy week of finals and I honestly thought I was not going to do so hot in a few of my classes. Well...my grades have spoken otherwise!!!!

French Vocal Literature: A- (I was the youngest by 9 years in this class)
Voice Jury: A (They grade harder on these than WVU even THOUGHT about grading, so it actually IS a big deal that I got an A)
Intro to Music Ministry: unknown at this point, but I'm assuming I got an A since I got an A- on the paper, turned in all of my assignments, and the test was open note...
Here's the kicker...
Biblical Theology of Worship: A-!!!!!!!! HOLY COW! This was the crazy class I thought I was going to fail. I looked at my test today and I got every single question right on the final! I ended up with a 92 on it *a B+* because I didn't elaborate enough on the two essays, but everything else was right!!! EVEN THE TRICK QUESTIONS!!! It was crazy!!!
I'm still waiting on Piano. I got an A- on the Jury, so I pass to level III, but I KNOW this one won't be an A. I definitely did not have the practice hours to get an A.

BUT
HOLY COW! I got almost straight As in my first semester of Seminary!
It's STILL a crazy notion!


:D


CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!!!!!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

I said, "YES!"

Hello cyber land!
To those of you who actually read this and don't know, I'm ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!
He really surprised me which was great AND he picked out a fantastic ring!
*the stories and picture to follow at some point*

We've decided on the end of June which gives us about 7 months to plan it. It can totally be done AND has been done in WAY less time. HOWEVER, I LOVE to plan! Like, give me a vision, and I'll get you there. That's the kind of girl I am. It's been 3 days...and I've already contacted my bridesmaids, told them about their dresses/shoes, signed up for a knot page, entered some information into our wedding website, AND started working on the guest list. I had all morning this morning with no cable and no good movies to watch...why not right!? I'm not really micro-managing anything, for example, I told my girls to buy whatever black dress they wanted. There were a few stipulations *i.e. tea length*, but nothing too much and Bryan's guys are picking out their own tuxes. Since the girls won't look the same, the guys shouldn't be stuck uncomfortable either. So I'm not being that crazy about stuff, but I just really LOVE the teeny details, and it's really hard for me not to be excited about everything. I'm not stressed out, but with the guest list, I'm trying to figure out how to keep it under control...that involves thinking and re-thinking about it - which I'm totally cool with.
I haven't really talked to many people about anything because I don't want to bug them about it, so when I talk to Bryan (my FIANCE! :D) I kind of shove him in front of a bus by bombarding him with all the details...plus the fact that I repeat everything multiple times to help myself process through it all...
Poor guy.
and yes, he does realize it WILL be like this for the rest of our lives.
haha
I already told him that I'm going to try really hard not to nag him. In doing this, I told him what my definition of "soon" was...which is much sooner than his definition...and I told him that I would try to give him specific times instead of just vague sayings like "when you get around to it." Because for ME, that means really soon because it's really important so I'll do it now, but for him it really means, when he gets around to it! SO if I say statements without clarification...I realize that I WILL nag him about it and that's the LAST thing I want to do.

I have also realized that I need to give people a cushion as far as time frame goes. Like not everyone has the time (or cares enough about it haha) to do something exactly when I ask them to do it *like respond to an email or look over music* this fact frustrates me. Partly because I think they should just do it (which is my own flaw, not theirs) and partly because I really love planning, so the more stuff I get done now, the more stuff I get to do later! haha

Oh well!
SO please pray for us all.
Not only for God to work in my and Bryan's relationship, that it would be a light to everyone around us, but also that God would help keep my ridiculous urge to plan and organize under control. I think it can be a great trait, but it can also be a bad one, and there's a delicate balance when doing a wedding. Please pray that I can find that balance without making everyone in my life miserable first!

:D
Thanks loved ones!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

It is finished...

My first paper for Seminary is finished!! (aside from formatting it, but that doesn't require in depth study).

I feel really good about the paper! Not because I think the content is that great...because I don't necessarily think that, and not because I even think I'll get an A on it...quite frankly I feel as if a high school senior wrote it more so than a college graduate, BUT I feel good about it because I learned so much!
The topic was Worship and Creation in the Psalms and while I didn't go as in depth as I could have (7-9 pages doesn't allow for a ton of depth), I really feel like I learned a lot and my ideas of worship of God as Creator are much different than before! (Meaning, I actually think about it!)

I'm so excited about the graciousness of God! I'm completely filled UP right now!
SO even if this paper doesn't get an A, or even a B, or a C! I still learned an amazing amount of stuff about Him that I didn't realize before and THAT is the whole point...not a silly letter grade.
I'll pass the class even if my paper is sub-par, but it doesn't matter because God has revealed himself to me! Even if it was through the mediocrity of my 1st paper!!!

:D
YAY!

Praise the Lord!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Samantha

What Samantha Means
You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong.
You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know.
You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic “Type A” personality.

You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated.
You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want.
You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way!

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life.
You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home.
You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble.

You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out.
Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia.
Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person.





I agree with some of it! Other parts not so much!
What do you think!?

Thanks Jessie!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Kitty pictures!!




She likes to sit in bags...




And the sink!


I meant to post a picture of Aria a long time ago, but I never got the chance to, then I completely forgot!

Here she is!! She's about 7.5 months old now!!!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Louisville for real

Weeks like this week really make me miss the gang in Morgantown. I got to spend an amazing week with them during the break! I got a lot of school work done, but still got to spend real quality time with some of my greatest friends. Then Sunday, the LOU came to visit me!! She was visiting campus and things, so I got to spend 2.5 days with her!! But when she left...it was back to the same thing it usually is here. Me...and that's it.

Bryan and I have such different schedules and heavy homework loads, that it's hard to spend any time together. I'm not used to living with a roommate I don't do anything with...When I lived with Danielle G. she and I had the same major, so we hung out all the time and it was wonderful! With Sommer, we had the same friends, so I always knew where we were going and what we would be doing on any given night. I actually opted out of hanging out quite a lot so I could talk to B on the phone and we STILL spent a TON of time together. There were always people to call at the last minute for dinner or a random movie. Actually, often times, I didn't have to call, they'd just be around my house. It got old sometimes, like too much of anything often can, but I loved being around them. I miss the inside jokes that keep come up in a new way every night. I miss feeling like I'm needed...I have that with Bryan. I feel like he needs me, and I need him, but like I said before, our schedules are crazy, so it's hard to spend a lot of time together...

I think I probably bring some of this on myself by opting to turn on an episode of Friends rather than call someone to do something. I'm kind of back in the same spot I was in the spring semester of my first senior year when I had my senior recital. I shut down from the outside world because I had so much stuff to get done. I realize that yes, I have a lot to do, but hiding away behind a book or piano isn't always healthy...

Pretty much I just really miss my friends right now.
I know I'm being all girly and whiny, but I don't care. I long for a real connection. I have a few girl friends here, for which I'm VERY thankful, but I guess even after 2 months, I still want that closeness I had in Morgantown. I realize that those things, the jokes and everything, take time and to be fair, I guess I'm not really giving it much time...

It seems like it's been much longer than 2 months...maybe because I can count the number of girl dates I've had on 3 fingers...or even any kind of friend time...when you're used to having that sort of thing all the time...it can be a hard thing to get used to. I think I can even count dates with B on one hand...we've been in the same room doing homework together a lot, so at least I get to see his handsome face and laugh at his ridiculous commentary!!! Even when I lived at home away from the Morgantown gang, I still was friends with the girls at work and on my softball team. Work here is different. I'm starting to feel like I fit in a little more, so that's good!

Blah!

Pretty much I'm just being whiny and need to get over it, but I think first, I'll pray.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

thoughts

I've been faced recently with the depth of my own sin. It's always a good thing to know how sinful we really are, but that's been an aspect of my Christian life I've been easy to overlook. At this point in my life the overlooking is not happening as easily, and that's something I'm very grateful for.
When you stop and take a look at your heart, a lot of things come up that you thought were gone and buried a long time ago...
It's been really refreshing to see my sin in this new light, and actually own up to it and repent! I'm one of those people who doesn't repent a lot because I don't realize my need for it very often. That's NOT a good place to be, and I'm really glad God has been showing me my true nature and my desperate need for Him.
This has begun a string of repenting to people I've wrong...some YEARS ago...and I'm really glad that I'm able to do that. It sucks having to humble yourself before someone else...but it's been a really good thing to have my heart softened to this aspect.
I still have a VERY LONG way to go, but I'm really glad that I'm finally on this track in my life!

on another note:
I'm visiting The Mo next week!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Thank you Hurricane Ike

I mean that both sarcastically and sincerely.
(Yes, you can do that.)
On Sunday, Louisville was hit by the 80mph winds of Hurricane Ike who ripped up trees, knocked down power poles, and blew transformers leaving 90% of the city without power. Classes were canceled for the week due to the fact that roads were closed because of all the debris.
My apartment building of 4 apartments and a house across the alley were the only ones on the block with power, so our apartment was a revolving door of people sleeping, eating, taking showers, and plugging things in. Until early Wednesday morning when LG&E began to work on the lines outside our house. Since then, our apartment building and the house across the alley have also been without power. Nothing major was lost...a few things of frozen veggies, but we cleared the fridge out and took the contents to my roommate's parent's house. (They lost power Sunday, but got it back on Tuesday.)
Since Wednesday, I've spent a LOT of time in random dining establishments with free internet catching up on school work and reading. At the present moment, I'm at Denny's about a mile down from my house trying to finish up the last bit of reading I need to do and generally waiting until I'm tired enough to go home and sleep. My roommate (Hannah) said we should have power sometime in the morning. I'm not sure where she heard this, but I sure hope it's true!

It sucks not being able to do things (like practice for piano on your electric clavinova) or read in your own house, etc. but it really hasn't been horrible. I'm way ahead on my readings for class, which means that I will be able to concentrate on my 2 papers and creative worship project during fall break (which we still get - thank you private school!)

Other than the events of Ike, things have been going really well!
I'm working on presenting myself more seriously...I know that sounds odd, but it has been brought to my attention that I don't look like I take my school work as seriously as I actually do. I bust my butt in my classes and lessons, and my professors can tell, but according to my voice teacher, I don't come off like I take it seriously at all. I'm not really sure why it matters how I present myself...and to be honest, I'm not even 100% sure what my error has been, but *shrug*. I'm just going to observe my behaviors to see if there is something I actually need to fix, or just because I'm so laid back in my lessons she thinks I carry that out to all my other classes...Again...I'm still not 100% sure why it matters if I do in fact get everything finished...but oh well! I'm learning! :D

<3

Thursday, September 4, 2008

I can't do this on my own

...and frankly, I'm sick of trying.
I realized last night at 11:30 after only 1.5 hours of 6 I was required to practice for piano by today...that I have been trying to do school/life/etc. on my own without the help of God. I didn't even notice it either. It wasn't until I was sitting on my piano bench, staring at the notes on the page in front of me, thinking about all the 23947329487 other things I needed to do aside from practicing, and how if I stayed up all night I could get them done, that I broke down and asked God to forgive me for putting Him on hold for school. I'm here to learn more about Him!! How in the WORLD could I learn more about Him without walking with Him to have His truths be given to me!? I can hear the same 23423897 things about worship, but until God allows me to understand, I can't! That's been the case actually! My two non-music classes overlap so much in the material. One is Biblical Theology of Worship and the other is a Philosophy of Music Ministry (worship) class. AND to top it all off, at the membership class for Sojourn last night, IT was about worship and all the things I'd heard so far since I've been here. Instead of feeling unintelligent because I don't grasp every little thing that my professors say, I should be grateful that I've been allowed to understand anything at all! Instead of freaking out because I was gone all weekend, then was a bad steward of my practice time for the week in piano, voice, and reading...I need to remember that it's not ALL ABOUT SCHOOL...a concept I have a hard time clinging to. I don't get Cs...I get As and SOMETIMES Bs, so it's rough to allow myself to think of being anything less than perfect, so I've been throwing myself into my homework instead of into the Word of God.
I'm SURE if I took the extra time to spend in the Word and in prayer, all the other things would line up MUCH easier.

There's my update!
I must leave for 8AM piano where I will turn in my simple *failing* 2 hours of practice for the week. (I needed 4 to get a C). That simply means that I'll be busting my butt for the remainder of the semester to make up for this week...and the only way I can do that is by the grace of God!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Louisville

Hello blog world!
I'm officially in Louisville! I'm very glad that I can say that with an exclamation mark at the end because these past few days have been laced with huge fits of anxiety that have left me sick and tired! HOWEVER, God is good and faithful and He has pulled me through!

I live in a very cute apartment *one I will have pictures of as soon as Hannah and I get it all decorated, etc*. My kitty is here!!!!! Though, she's still sick. Her sneezing has calmed down a bit, but she is still weezing a bit, AND her left eye just started watering excessively and producing a lot of goo...She has an appointment for her next round of shots next Saturday and hopefully they can do something for her. :(
She's still eating like she should be and still bouncing around a lot, so I know she's alright, but I want her to feel 100% better!

Music placement exams are FINALLY over and I'm registered for classes! I tested out of Piano I, Musicianship I, undergrad conducting, and Music History from 1750-present! I have to take 3 semesters of theory, 1 semester of music history, and orchestration (as far as undergrad classes go).

This semester I'm taking:
Biblical Theology of Worship
Personal Spiritual Disciplines
Intro to Music Ministry
Piano Level II
Vocal Literature: French Melodie
Voice Lessons
Recital Lab
and I'm in the Seminary Choir - the audition only choir!

It looks like a lot, but it's 13 hours, which is equal to about 18 undergrad...I took like 2239247293847 in undergrad. PLUS the recital lab is one of those "attend random recitals, etc."

Anyway! It's going really well!
I am excited to be here with Bryan and to goof off with him!!!! It's been a lot of fun! :D



Right now, I'm about to finish putting my room together!! WOOHOO!

O!
I have a job interview for Bob Evans *sigh* haha on Saturday! My attitude about that place is terrible! I've been working for them since I was 17 *I'm 23 now* and all I can think about is how much I don't want to work for them...never mind the fact that I have been able to work 1 or 2 days a week since I've been in college to pay my bills! Now I have the chance to do that again...no new training *with the exception of the new computer system* but I already know how everything works! I should be thankful!!!
I need to re-evaluate how I look at this job!




infinite xs and os

Friday, August 8, 2008

Hodge Podge post!

This post will be quite A.D.D. because I have a lot to cover.

First things first:
Those pesky videos.
WELL I have them all on DVDS...but I have no DVD burner. So much for getting them out to people before I move *ON SUNDAY!*

Kitties!
On Saturday, Momma and I went to the Humane Society and got two kitties!!! One for me and one for Hannah, my roommate because they are way cheaper here than in Louisville. Aria is my kitty, she's a 3 month old calico and SUPER cuddly. Miley was Hannah's kitty...and yes I did say was. She was a teeny 2 month old white kitty. After the first day we had her she started sneezing a little bit, but we just figured because she just got her first round of shots the day we picked her up, that it was because of that...WELL I left on Monday morning for Tennessee and she was fine...Momma called me on Wednesday night and said that she died! :( She was bouncing around all day like normal, then she started to slow down some, then by the end of the day she was dead. :( We have NO idea what happened...we only had her for 4 days. :(
Aria is ok. She was sneezing some, so my brudder (who is home from Idaho!!!!) took her to the vet the day after Miley died, and they said she had an upper respitory infection, so she's on antibiotics now. She seems to be ok!

Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg!
I just got back yesterday from Tennessee with a great friend of mine, Amanda! We were down there for 3 nights. Neither one of us realized HOW BUSY that place is!! We stayed on the strip in Pigeon Forge and it was busy all the time. We had fun though! The first day consisted of window outlet shopping and a Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre called American Idle! It was a blast. I got to be one of the contestants (Annita Mann) where I sang parts of "Redneck Woman", "It's Rainin' Men", and "Fancy" and I won a little trophy and a free ride up the Ober Gatlinburg ski lift (which we never made it to.) We went white water rafting on Tuesday. It was a lot of fun, but the water levels are really low, so it wasn't a very hard trip at all. I think I'm ready for some bigger white water! Bethany and Jennifer drove down from Cleveland, and they got lost in Knoxville detour construction so they didn't even get to us until around 9 that night. We had a lot of fun just hanging around the hotel that night. Wednesday morning they left, and Manda and I went to Dollywood! It was fun, but kind of a pain in the butt becuase the park is laid out REALLY weird. We didn't stay the whole day because we were EXHAUSTED, but it was still a good time. Next time though, I think we'll go to the water park instead. That night we ran into downtown Gatlinburg...we had NO idea it was so super busy and packed with shopping, or we would have planned to be there longer. Oh well! We left yesterday afternoon after a little bit more outlet shopping. It was a really good trip.

Softball!
Last night, I made it home around 530, and left around 550 to head to Man to play a softball game...we only had 8 girls so we had to forfeit, but we still scrimaged anyway and lost, but oh well! I almost didn't go, but I'm glad I did because we don't have a game tonight, so last night was my last game with them. :( I've had a blast playing this year. Those girls are a lot of fun.

Friends!
Today and tomorrow are my last days here so in between packing fun, I'll be trying to spend time with my friends here. Mainly Bekah and Tabi, but there may be a few other stops here and there.

The end!

Monday, July 28, 2008

Keynote videos

Hey gang!
I just want to say that I'm FINALLY getting all the keynote video footage *all 7 little tapes from my camera* organized completely and put on DVDs! woohoo!!! For those of you who have NO idea what Keynote is, it's the music ministry branch of Campus Crusade for Christ. I was fortunate enough to get to go on a summer project in 2006 with them and I had a blast and grew a TON because of it.
Your band rehearses for 4 weeks, then tours for 3. There were 5 groups, most did secular songs and did a gospel presentation in the middle of their concerts.
Swerve was a pop/rock group
Mangofish was a rock group
Young Isaac was an alternative rock group
Infinite Impact was a gospel group from a different project that merged with our project!
And Proof of Purchase *my band* was the worship group.
There ya go!


I have TONS of video footage of our dress rehearsals before we all left for tour, random goofy stuff along the way, and all kinds of things that I have been working on organizing for quite some time now. My problem is that I had to put the things onto VHS tapes from the little camera tapes, THEN record the VHS to DVD...WELL our DVD recorder is REALLY hard to figure out, but I FINALLY did it *while wasting 2 (so far) disks* and I have 1 DVD finished, and 1 is currently in the process! :D

YAY!






I am in the home stretch here and I can't wait to move!
:D

Friday, July 25, 2008

My "weekend"

The work weekend is in quotes because it was really Monday and Tuesday, but those days are my weekend.

I went to the good old Mo to spend a few days with a GREAT friend of mine, Amanda. We had a ridiculously great time, and I WILL be posting pictures (and perhaps videos!?) to show you how silly we are. We watched movies (One Missed Call, Dan in Real Life, and The Dark Knight), ate TONS of junk food, and eventually took glamour shots! HAHA oh yes, I mean the kind you took at middle school slumber parties. It was hilarious. We even had a huge box fan to blow our hair! THEN, if the pictures weren't enough, we decided to make a movie using my digital camera...the concept of this cinematic genuis is that the mad hatter *or my gold glitter top hat from tap at age 4* was trying to clean up the image of pop stars...so Jocelyn *Amanda* was the first victim (THIS time around, mwahaha) and Bianca *me, an MTV VJ for the BBC* ...did I mention we were British in this film?...His idea of cleaning us up was turning us into opera singers...just like he did with Bianca's parents - Yoko and John...oh yes, he turned them into Renee Flemming and Placido Domingo *famous soprano and tenor* and he was going to turn us into the dueling sopranos...
There you have it. A work of ART was created! haha

Needless to say, we had a BLAST! So much, in fact, that I'm pretty sure I'm taking my real video camera to Gatlinburg when we go with Tabi, so we can make a movie should we decide to do so!

<3
k bye!

LOU IS COMING TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I get to play softball tonight, and I THINK my old friend Clif is coming to watch the game too! woohoo!
I only have 3 days of work left!

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Rant

So...I'm pretty livid right now. Why can't the people I work with show up for work? Every single shift I work *4 days a week* at least one person calls off.
Tonight, I had a softball game at 7...I needed to be out the door by 6, 630 at the VERY latest to still make it the 30 minutes to the game. My manager said he would have no problem getting me out, we just had to wait for either person A or person B to show up first so that they could still have 6 servers on the floor...
WELL the carry out person didn't show up, so he had to take one of the servers and put her on carry out, which gave us 6 on the floor including me.
Since person A and B were going to be there at 5/530, he told me I'd be able to leave, so I called a girl on the team and my parents, to tell them that I'd be able to go...
WELL
who didn't show up?
NEITHER OF THEM!
Person A came to pick up her check dressed in street clothes, and then called off...
person B, who was on a leave of absence, was supposed to be back for her first day today ALSO didn't show up...
so guess who got stuck there?
me.
I mean, I wouldn't have been so angry if I wouldn't have already thought I was going to make it to the game. I told the girls the night before that unless something changed, I wasn't going to make it, so I would have been ok with not even thinking I could go in the first place. It wasn't my managers fault, nor anyone elses that I work with, so I tried my very best not to take out my mood on everyone else, though I had to stop for a second because my anger put me on the verge of tears on several occasions.
All I had to do was make one phone call earlier today letting them know I wasn't coming to work, but I've NEVER called off and I told my boss that I wouldn't do that to him because he was nice enough to let me have Fridays off. Everyone I talked to said, "you should have called in," but I really couldn't. I tried to get my shift covered, but every single person who said "yeah, I can do that," or, "let me see," fell through, but not until Thursday, when it was pretty much too late to do anything about it...so there I was, at work.

My first commitment is to work, so I'm going to show up when I'm supposed to. Softball, though I love it WAY more, doesn't take precedence over work.

But I am SO mad that others don't think the same way. I mean, I know why they don't but it still is NOT FUN AT ALL!!!!!!!!!

UGH!

Ok. I'm done!
Time to make use of the time I have instead of sitting around sulking about something that God worked out for my good (whether I see it or not).

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Picture post!

Can you imagine the FUN we will have!?



Zelah!



Zoe is NOT modest.



That's all for today!
SOFTBALL THIS WEEKEND! Momma and Daddy took me down to the ballfield on Monday and we worked on hitting. My mom was always AWESOME in that department and by the end of the 30 minutes we were down there, I was busting the crap out of the ball and it didn't even feel like work! YAYAY! Now, hopefully I can remember what I did for the game TOMORROW!!!!
I'm heading to spend some QT with Amanda on Monday and Tuesday. We're going to do goofy, relaxing, stupid things like...taking glamour shots hahaha I can't wait! She can REALLY use the break. From someone who has had MANY a voice major related mental breakdown...she needs some FUN!
We're getting new carpet Monday in lil' brudder's room, so I can't leave till the carpet guy finishes which will be "sometime after 8" so we all know how THAT goes.
NEXT Friday, LOU IS COMING TO VISIT ME!!!!!!!!! We're softballing and then I THINK maybe hitting up some karaoke! I'm sure there's nothing better than karaoke in the Legion with 2 of the best people in the world *Lou and Bekah* in softball cleats! YaY! I'll let you know how it goes!


Countdown to Louisville:
24 DAYS!!!!!!!!

Monday, July 14, 2008

Random update

See, I knew once I got all my thoughts sorted out, it wouldn't be hard to figure out what to do about auditions. I'm not going to do them. It would pretty much be a waste of time to go stand around in line all day when I really don't want to be an American Idol anyway! There are PLENTY of other reasons, but I'll spare the details.

I have been at home by myself since Friday since my parents are in Idaho visiting Lil' Brudder. *He's there working as a carpenter for the Idaho Shakespeare Festival this summer. He likes it a lot. My parents when out to see "Into the Woods", my mom's new favorite musical, thanks to me.* It's been interesting being by myself. My cats love me now that I'm the only one here to give them attention! haha However, Zelah *my kitty...she's all black half Persian, half Himalayan* has woken me up every night since my parents have been gone to give her luvinz. I'm not a big fan of sleep being interrupted by my squeaking cat, but at least she likes me now! haha Zoe *my momma's cat...she's a Heinz 57 variety* is crazy. This cat has to be where I am, especially if I'm in the kitchen. She'll rub her head on my toes until I pet her a sufficient amount. I love them though! :D I've been very lazy this weekend until today. Well...I have been working and playing ball, so I guess I haven't been THAT lazy, but still. Today, they are coming back *they actually just called saying they were in the car on the way back from the airport and will be here in about an hour!* I decided to surprise them by cleaning everything up. I've been doing that this summer, but they have been BIG cleaning projects, so I decided to just clean the kitchen, etc. It looks pretty nice. I can't do anything about the boxes of my junk sitting in the dining room though until I move away on the 10th. The people are coming to put carpet in my brother's room (aka mom's new sewing room) sometime next week, so we need to begin the process of yanking everything out of the room and things need to be picked up for that. We actually just finished putting the room altogether, so it kind of sucks that we have to drag it all back out. Oh well, such is life! The next step is to get my mom to clean out her closet so we only have to make one trip to the Salvation Army instead of 2394823942387. I just finished up her laundry and everything is hanging nicely in the closet. Too bad I can't be that dedicated to my own room. Eh, I'll get around to it before Lou comes next weekend!

I am playing softball for a women's slow pitch league. You have to be 21 to play and the girls average age 35. My team isn't bad. We're not amazing, but it's still fun. My team would be better if the other 3 teams in the league didn't have 3 or 4 girls that could knock the ball out of the park...you can't play defense against a grand slam, followed by a homerun with 2 on base. Needless to say, we've been KILLED our first 2 games last weekend because of such things. I'm playing 3rd base, and to be honest...I'm really comfortable there. I'd rather be at short stop or 2nd just because there's more to do at those spots, but 3rd is a really hot spot in this league. These ladies CRUSH the ball, so even if it's on the ground, it comes REALLY hard. I was kind of nervous at first, but then I realized that this year will be my 16th year playing, so I think I can handle myself. It's a blast! AND one of my greatest friends, Bekah, is playing too!!! We car pool to the games in Man *about 40 minutes away* and belt show tunes the entire way! *She's also my Musical Mondays partner.* Speaking of which...I need to figure out if we're doing that today...


I had a bunch more stuff written about how I'm going to Gatlinburg with 2 of my best friends, but then the internet stopped working and this part of my post was lost...so I'm done.

:D
BYE!

Saturday, July 12, 2008

AI auditions make me a nut case...

Yes, I do realize it's 20 after 2 in the morning, but a heart is never quiet when it's convenient and I just really need to process some stuff. I figure if I type it all out somewhere, I'll be able to go back and re-read it to help get some clarity. If I do it on this thing, I'll at least be able to get SOME feedback.

**WARNING: This post is highly over dramatic and very stream of consciousness.**

Ok, so American Idol season 8 auditions are in Louisville next week! When I found this out a few hours ago, I got all giddy and excited and my stomach dropped to my toes. (I know lame, right!?) My first instinct was to do it just for fun. After all, I auditioned for season 4 and had a complete blast. Granted, I didn't get past the first round of producers and neither did any of the people I was with, but it was still a lot of fun. So, Louise and I decided why not...let's do it.
Bryan, who is super supportive despite his hatred of the show, just advised me to think a little farther ahead than I want to. Because I'm convinced that I won't get ANYWHERE with it. But he asked me to think about what happens if I actually do make it through the producers to Simon, Randy, and Paula, and they say, "welcome to Hollywood." What next?

You're all probably thinking...you GO stupid, duh, but it's not that simple. 4 years ago when I auditioned, I was in a place where I would have had no reason not to go. I was also in a different, not so good at all, place spiritually. Now I'm not going to get on a rant about how you can't be a Christian in the music industry, or anything even remotely close to that, so don't worry. But I AM going to try to sort out what I'm supposed to do with life, and how easily swayed I can be at times. I really feel like I'm called to Southern for music ministry. I have NO idea what that will actually look like when I'm finished with the program, but I'm supposed to be there. (A thought that actually from time to time, I STILL doubt.) Some round(s) of the competition happen in November. I have no idea when in November, and also no idea if that means I would have to miss school...which will NOT happen by the way. If I DO get through it all...I'd have to take off the 2nd semester to do it...we ALL know how ridiculously long that season is. Am I ready to possibly do that?

Also,how do you go about ministering in that type of environment? I know people do it every day, but how do they do it? I think to myself, "I can be a good role model...a good influence...etc" but look at all those "good role models"...Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, etc. When those girls came out, they were looked up to by younger girls (even though Britney's first video was scandalous, but at any rate, Jessica Simpson!) Her early interviews and videos and all that stuff were wholesome! Look at her *them* now. The Hollywood lifestyle does things to people. It's a dark and depraved place. I mean, it sucks me in from way over here sometimes...here in Southern, WV I get wrapped up in things that go on over there and I have NOTHING to do with it! It's that selfish, human desire to be famous. I have that. I can't lie about it. It's there. I'd love to have people idolizing me and my voice as if it's something I actually did myself...but it's not. None of it is me. It's God. The ONLY reason I have the ability to sing is because God designed me that way. I have to figure out if doing AI would be glorifying to Him. Even if I don't have to think about ANY of this stuff and it turns out to be simply a great trip with my best friend...is THAT glorifying to Him? I already know what the AI audition experience is like. Do I really need to find out again?
Of course part of me *most likely the human part* is excited and is pushing to go through with it, but the other part of me is really unsettled.
Like I said earlier, I go back and forth a lot about what I'm supposed to be doing with my life. Do I really need to put myself in a situation that I KNOW is going to result in yet another long series of doubts?

And taking it from another perspective that has nothing to do with my emotional issues...here are some practical questions I need to ask myself:

Do I want that kind of life?
Do I want that kind of reality TV, possibly have millions watching my dream potentially get crushed?
Is that even my dream anymore?
Is it what GOD has in store for me?
I don't want to be the next American Idol...I really don't. What I would love from it is the chance to do other stuff...Broadway, etc...but are there even roles out there that I would be comfortable doing without compromising my morals?
These are the kinds of questions popping into my head. And I'm sure it's probably good that they are, but I have no idea what the answers are.
Of course I'd love to be famous in that 'I'm a 23 year old, day dreaming, American who only sees the over-glamourized side of fame' kind of way...but I don't know that I'd want the type of attention that caused cameras to be in my face all the time. I mean, I didn't even like getting the attention after Mountaineer Idol was over! The day after I was ok with it, but after that I was like, "ok it's time for it to stop now thank you."
And I realize that this is a lot to think about when it comes to even AUDITIONING *aka, going up against THOUSANDS of others with 30 seconds to try to impress a producer enough to send you through to another round where you do the same thing...and different people like different sounds, so out of the 10+ people you could possibly end up in front of, you have to hope that your sound is what they like.* So really...I mean my chances are VERY slim to none, but I feel like I should think about these things before I put myself in a situation where I can't say, "no."
Does that make sense? Or do I just sound like a neurotic girl babbling about some unrealistic pipedream? (ok I KNOW I sound like the latter, but does the thought process even make sense?)

Maybe by tomorrow I'll read this and realize how ridiculous I actually sound. I also think I'm the only person in the WORLD worrying about this...
It's late and I have church in about 7.5 hours.
Goodnight.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Really Eugene H. Peterson? Really!?

Most of you know me, and you know that I don't normally get into the "this translation of the Bible is better than that translation" kind of stuff, but yesterday's scripture lesson read from The Message FLOORED me! Now The Message is not exactly my first choice, but whatever. Here's what got me...the sermon was from Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30. Here's what it says in the ESV:

16"But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
17"'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'

18For John came(A) neither eating(B) nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19The Son of Man came(C) eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard,(D) a friend of(E) tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds."[a]

25(Q) At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father,(R) Lord of heaven and earth, that(S) you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and(T) revealed them to little children; 26yes, Father, for such was your(U) gracious will.[b] 27(V) All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son(W) except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone(X) to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28(Y) Come to(Z) me, all who labor and are(AA) heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and(AB) learn from me, for I am(AC) gentle and lowly in heart, and(AD) you will find rest for your souls. 30For(AE) my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."



BUT in The Message, this is the paraphrase:

16-19"How can I account for this generation? The people have been like spoiled children whining to their parents, 'We wanted to skip rope, and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk, but you were always too busy.' John came fasting and they called him crazy. I came feasting and they called me a lush, a friend of the riffraff. Opinion polls don't count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating."

25-26Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

27Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.

28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."



WHAT!?
I don't recall reading ANYTHING in the first version about skipping rope, opinion polls, or eating pudding in 16-19 and he actually thinks "yes Father, that is the way you like to work" is a sufficient substitute for 26"such was your gracious will"...and as far as 25-30...
"I won't lay anything heavy or ill fitting on you"!? That's how he translates 30"My yoke is easy and my burden is light"!? In my opinion the first statement is a lie! As Christians we go through all kinds of things that are 'heavy or ill-fitting', but our hope lies in the fact that we have freedom in Christ. He never says, 'oh follow me and everything will be great and nothing unpleasant will happen'.
In some parts of The Message paraphrase, it's not 100% completely terrible, but I really feel like this one missed the point entirely! I mean most of us have heard "my yoke is easy, my burden is light" before...at least I know I have countless times, but when it was read from The Message, I had NO idea that's what it was talking about. I picked up the NIV translation and read it for myself because I had no clue what was going on.


Seriously, what!?
I could go on, but you get the point.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Content? I'm trying...

I tell you one thing, learning to be content in all situations is way harder than I ever thought it would be. I go through phases, but I think if you would peel back all the layers, even when it looks like I'm content...I don't know that I am. I'm speaking specifically about being here this summer. (I didn't want anyone to think it has anything to do with ANYTHING else.) I need to learn to be content doing nothing, or working, or sitting around at a rehearsal to walk on stage, stand there, not rehearse the song/dance for the only scene I'm in, and go sit back stage again.
I need to be content when my friends are VERY late for things, or when they fall asleep by mistake or accidently go to the wrong theatre. Those things aren't their fault. I'm sure Tabi didn't mean to misunderstand me and go to the wrong theatre. And really NONE of these things actually matter in the grand scheme of the world...it's just me being SUPER over-dramatic and I know that.

UGH!

Praying about being content is kind of like praying for patience...God sticks you in the middle of situations and says...deal with this. And ya know, I don't think I would deal with it at all in any other way. YaY God for knowing what you're doing!

Another thing...a kid I used to be decent friends with is now in jail for various crimes...not cool!

Also...keep the Guy and Sparks families in your prayers. Ashley Guy died yesterday morning and the reasons aren't really known. I didn't know Ashley very well AT ALL...as in, she was married to Patrick Sparks...I went to school with Patrick's younger sister Jennifer, and their mom has been my hair stylist since middle school. Ashley and Patrick have been married MAYBE 2 years...and they have a 3 month old daughter...so please keep the families in your prayers.

She was involved with The Aracoma Story (TAS) years ago, so it's hit some of the members of the cast pretty hard. It's hard anyway because this is the 5th person that I know of that has passed away that was heavily involved in TAS, so being at the park for rehearsals is always kind of hard on some.
Jennifer Williams died when she was about 12...I was only 6 or even a little younger. She lived up here on the hill, so I remember a few things about her but not much. Her parents Mike and Wendy are still active with TAS and every year there's a girl that looks a lot like Jennifer...this year is no different.
Ron Moxley died...hmm what summer was that? 2002? I think. His daughter Cathleen is a year younger than me. I did the Shawnee Trail with him for a couple years.
Matt Patterson died 2 summers ago? He was in Fiddler on the Roof. His first summer with TAS was my first also. He was about 5 years older than me.
Ruby Sutter died this past fall. Ruby was one of the greatest ladies you could ever meet and I've been in shows with her since I started there. It's especially weird to be back without Ruby there. Last summer I saw her at "Lil' Abner" and she was very excited that I was coming back for this summer...
and now Ashley.

wow...I don't know that I ever really realized all that before...


that's enough for now
this post definitely was very stream of consciousness...sorry about that

Monday, June 9, 2008

Johanna

My Sondheim clip of the day is Bernadette Peters singing "Johanna" from Sweeney Todd This is one of my favorite songs in the show! :D

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Stephen Sondheim

I have always admired the genuis of Stephen Sondheim (Into the Woods is one of my favorite musicals), but recently I've developed a great passion for his work. I'm not super familiar with much of his stuff, unfortunately, but I hope to remedy that soon. I think I want to do an All Sondheim recital. I know that at SBTS, I have to do a recital, but I'm not sure what the requirements are. I'm sure they would let me do a specitality recital, and just not count it as my real recital? *shrug* I suppose I'll cross that bridge when I get there, but I'd LOVE to do a Sondheim recital, so today I spent $100 on Amazon.com and purchased all 4 volumes of his vocal selections, a book about the his shows *for research purposes*, and 3 CDs: a ballads of stephen sondheim cd, and the 2 disk Bernadette Peters (LOVE HER) Sondheim etc. set! :D
That's pretty cheap for all of that stuff. 5 books and 3 Cds!! Come on!
I'm going to start doing research right now because this is something I REALLY would love to do.

...I'd also love to learn every single vocal piece Debussy ever wrote, but there are a TON of them! AND they're in French...and while my French diction isn't atrocious...it's still pretty bad!


Anyway, I'm going to leave you with 3 videos for your viewing pleasure!
First:
Bernadette Peters singing "No one is Alone" from Into the Woods



Second:
Bernadette Peters singing "Children with Listen" from Into the Woods



Third:
The only youtube video I could find of a girl singing one of my favorite Debussy pieces, "C'est l'extase". I really like her voice! I must warn you that French Art Song is somewhat of an aquired taste. I LOVE IT, and it's ok if you don't! :D



Enjoy!

Friday, June 6, 2008

New Apartment!!!!!!

Hello folks!
Well, the living with Hannah fun is going to work out! :D She found an apartment that she actually almost signed a lease for last month, but her roommate fell through at the last minute. It's still available because of another string of events that made the guys living in it (friends of hers) have to stay an extra month. SO we have an apartment!!!!!!
WOOHOO!!!!

I haven't even seen it in person, but I've seen pictures, and I don't even care that much because Hannah's the one driving around everywhere looking for them, and since she was super pumped, I was like OK! :D

Here's the only thing I dislike about it...



That's right...HIDEOUS University of Louisville inspired bathroom...ick!

Everything else is great though!!! Hannah and I are ok with the black in the bathroom, but the red is a little offensive. (And it is actually red, not orange, but the picture doesn't so that too well) Any suggestions? The only thing we can think of is tile paint?

<3

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Finally, something to do!!!

Hello internet world!
I'm writing today to tell you that I finally have something to do with my time! Until now, I've been doing whatever I can to entertain myself, but mostly I just get up in the morning, practice a little piano, help organize some other part of my parents' house, and then go to work. I've been trying to reach the lady to play softball for over a month, but I've had no response. She doesn't have an answering machine, and I'm assuming since she doesn't know the number, she isn't answering the phone...but really, if the SAME number called you almost everyday for a month, wouldn't you eventually answer it!? Well she hasn't, so it doesn't look like I'll get to play softball this summer, which actually is kind of hard for me to grasp since I love it so much and have been looking forward to playing since LAST summer.
BUT...
The Aracoma Story (our Native American heritage play) needed singer/dancers for one scene - the settler scene. My friend Jamie is directing this and she asked if I could do it. Well...I didn't audition for the show to begin with because 1. I really don't like it very much due to past directors turning it into a horrible mess, and 2. I work evenings. It actually got cancled this year, but Jamie and crew fought to keep it running leaving 20 days to put it up. A few of her singers dropped out due to various circumstances and she needed another one so she didn't have to sing. I can't be there final dress rehearsal OR the 20 and 21 because of prior commitments, but she said if I could do it, she'd just fill in for me those 3 nights. I talked to my boss at Bobs and for the 6 days it actually conflicts with my work schedule, they are going to let me come in and work mornings, so I don't have to take 2 weeks off of work to do the show!!!! I'm super pumped! I only get two rehearsals though...this Saturday and next Saturday, so hopefully, I'll pick it up quickly. I know I get to sing a verse in the song and I'll be dancing around like a happy settler lady! :D I'm pretty excited! I think I'm more excited just to have something else to do with my time.

Although...this organizing the house for my parents has actually been kind of fun...do I see a future as a personal organizer!? Maybe! If the wedding coordinator dream doesn't work out! ;)

Have a good day!

Oh yeah! I almost forgot! I will not be living on campus this fall because I realized that I can save $200 a month by living with a roommate offcampus. SO, Bryan has a friend, Hannah, that ALSO needed a roommate, so we decided to live together. We've been doing apartment searching and she's actually got appointments to see...3 or 4 of them this afternoon!!!!!!!! Hopefully, we can find one quickly that doesn't make us start paying rent on June 15...I'd rather not have to pay for 2 months I won't be there.

Kbye

Friday, May 16, 2008

My name!

I saw this on Beth's blog and decided to follow in her footsteps. I don't know how to do that fancy thing where I can post the website I got it from with the words "website" and have it be an active link, but that's ok!
I went here:
http://www.paulsadowski.com/Numbers.asp

And typed in my name! I think it's pretty accurate! What do YOU think!?

You entered: Samantha Lee Bartlow
There are 18 letters in your name.
Those 18 letters total to 64
There are 7 vowels and 11 consonants in your name.

What your first name means:Hebrew Female Listen; name of God.
Aramaic Female Listener.


Your number is: 1

The characteristics of #1 are: Initiating action, pioneering, leading, independent, attaining, individual.

The expression or destiny for #1:
A number 1 Expression denotes the skilled executive with keen administrative capabilities. You must develop the capacity to be a fine leader, sales executive, or promoter. You have the tools to become an original person with a creative approach to problem solving, and a penchant for initiating action. Someone may have to follow behind you to handle the details, but you know how to get things going and make things happen. You have a good mind and the ability to use it for your advancement. Because of these factors, you have much potential for achievement and financial rewards. Frequently, this expression belongs to one running a business or striving to achieve a level of accomplishment on ones talents and efforts. You have little need for much supervision, preferring to act on your own with little restraint. You are both ambitious and determined. Self-confident and self-reliant must be yours, as you develop a strong unyielding will and the courage of your convictions.

Although you fear loneliness, you want to be left alone. You fear routine and being in a rut. You often jump the gun because you are afraid of being left behind.

The negative attributes of the 1 Expression are egotism and a self-centered approach to life. This is an aggressive number and if it is over-emphasized it is very hard to live with. You do not have to be overly aggressive to fulfill your destiny. The 1 has a natural instinct to dominate and to be the boss; adhering to the concept of being number One. Again, you do not have to dominate and destroy in order to lead and manage.

Your Soul Urge number is: 2

A Soul Urge number of 2 means:
With the Soul Urge number 2, your motivation is centered on friendships, partnerships, and companionship. You want to work with others as a part of a cooperative team. Leadership is not important to you, but making a contribution to the team effort is. You are willing to work hard to achieve a harmonious environment with sensitive, genial people.

In a positive sense, the 2 Soul Urge is sympathetic, extremely concerned and devoted. The nature tends to be very sensitive to others, always tactful and diplomatic. This element in your nature indicates that you are rather emotional. You are persuasive, but in a very quiet way, never forceful. You are the type that makes really close friendships because you are so affectionate and loving.

If this number is over-emphasized in your makeup, you may be over-sensitive, with a delicate ego that is too easily hurt. You may be timid or fearful, too easygoing for your own good.

Your Inner Dream number is: 8

An Inner Dream number of 8 means:
You dream of success in the business or political world, of power and control of large material endeavors. You crave authority and recognition of executive skills. Your secret self may have very strong desire to become an entrepreneur.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Everything's finally come to the surface

I am a people person. I thrive on the company of others. Too many days by myself starts to get to me. Today, the past month of being alone in Chapmanville finally came to a head. I'm not sure what exactly caused it, but I went to work about 30 minutes early to eat, and as I was sitting there, I found it difficult to choke back the tears.
I miss my boyfriend. I miss my friends in Morgantown. I miss the girls/guys I worked with. Generally, I just miss being around people that know me.
Now, I always miss someone, but growing up 5 hours away from the rest of my family has given me this way of dealing with it...I just don't. I guess that's the best way to put it. I don't typically consciously miss anyone. It's just an emotion that's always been there, but doesn't come out very often. I think I'm just used to it honestly. I don't necessarily think it's because I don't deal with it...I just know how to deal with it I guess. I don't know!
Anyway...once I talked to my friend Heather at work (we've practically grown up together) I felt MUCH better. Just being around that ONE person that knows me (even though we were never super close friends...we have TONS of memories together) made me ok again. *I know girls are emotional, and this post is nothing but that.*
I just need to find something to do. Not necessarily to occupy my time, or distract myself, but here's my typical day:
I sleep in *as late as possible*
take a shower
go to work evening shift
come home
talk to Bryan (which has been a lot of silence on my end because I do nothing, sorry babe)
go to bed
repeat.

I sleep in as late as I can because I have nothing else to do. This morning, I got up, went for a super short jog *it's WAY hard to jog when you haven't done it in years* ate breakfast, showered, then sat around until it was time to go to work.

I'm so used to being so busy all the time that this is KILLING me. I don't need to be as busy as I was *by ANY means* and I have learned how to relax since graduation, but this is the complete opposite of being busy. Bryan used to talk to me all the time about how I always needed something to do and I didn't know how to relax. Well, that was VERY true and I'm VERY thankful for him pointing that out because now I'm ok with laying around and just resting. HOWEVER, after 2 months of that...it's time to find something to do. My emotions need it. I know that might sound like a dumb statement, but it's very true. AND did I mention that 95% of the time I'm at my house...I'm alone, with kitties because my mom works 2 jobs.

I was in Morgantown last week, and it was the best I've felt since I've been home. I spent the majority of time with my roommate, Brandon, and Shane (three of my favorite people) and it did WONDERS for my soul. I have to head back up the day after Mother's Day to get the rest of my stuff and help clean the house because Sommer is moving out. I can't wait to be back there!

Anyway, this is just a bunch of ramblings, but I needed to say it all.
I feel much better!

Friday, April 25, 2008

American Idol and Bob Evans

Hello folks!
I know it's been awhile since I've actually posted anything substantial and I appologize for that. All I do these days is work, and nothing worth mentioning happens there. This is a fun 2 topic blog! WOOHOO! American Idol banter is in the beginning, followed by the differences I've noticed between the Morgantown Bobs and the Logan Bobs. Enjoy!

Tonight, I've decided to voice my American Idol opinion. Take it or leave it!
Each season, I think I get more disappointed in this show...
I don't think I've actually watched an entire season from beginning to end. The entire process drags on too much for me. The 4 weeks of bad auditions; the long, boring, hour long results show; things like that. Having been to audition before (years ago for season 4) I KNOW how much great talent they get rid of in the beginning phases just to up the amount of goof balls for the audition shows. If they actually let through the talented people *I'm not EVEN considering myself, so don't think that please* this would actually be a great competition!

This season, I'm a little bored. I think they are all great singers, but only one of them has shown any type of versatility...David Cook. And he only showed that this past week during Andrew Loyd Webber week! He's a rocker, but he took on "Music of the Night" from "Phantom of the Opera", and actually sang in the style it was written for! He didn't make it a rock ballad and it proved what a great vocalist he really is!
Syesha finally looked like she was having fun this week! I thought she sounded great, looked great, and was very entertaining! I've never heard the song from "Starlight Express" that she did, but it was a great choice.
Aside from those 2, the rest have still just stayed the same. They pick different songs, but sing them in the exact same way. I really like all of their voices, but isn't this show supposed to showcase your versatility!? *shrug*

Those are just a few quick thoughts on the contestants!
As far as the show goes...how much longer do you think they'll keep this up? It's such a good concept for entertainment, but I'm a little frustrated with the judges. Simon can stay, but I feel like they need to get people in there who can actually give criticisms that will help the contestants. Randy and Paula very rarely provide that kind of feed back. I also would LOVE to see a vocal coach, or someone that knows a bit about the voice and how it works, on the judges panel. I know that 90% of Americans watching and voting don't care about what the singers are doing technically, but for those of us that do, it'd be nice.

Anyway, that's my little Idol rant. I don't know if there will be another one, but you never know. Since I just sit around my house when I'm not at work, you might get another!





And for the Bob Evans fun I'm sure you've all been dying to know about.
I don't mean to compare the Logan Bobs with the Morgantown Bobs, but I worked at the one up north for almost 4 years straight...so similarities and differences are noticed and here is a small list of those things:
* we do a LOT more carry out here than up there.
I'm serious. We have to have a person on Carry Out specifically for the majority of the day because it gets so busy over there that the servers would KILL someone if it was on pick-up.
* in general, the manners here are not so great...
I'm not going to go into details because then I'll get worked up, but it's WAY harder to work down here because of the constant feeling of being under appreciated.
* Working evenings here is MUCH better than working evenings up there.
I used to HATE working evenings in Morgantown because I was the oldest person on the server line (at 23), we never made much money, I had been there the longest...including longer than the night shift manager, and many more reasons.
* The dinner rush is MUCH later down here.
Seriously, we'll be dead from 5-7 (in the Mo, that was a busiser time) and we'll get hit with a rush around 715 *sometimes later* that doesn't stop until we lock the doors. Thursday night, I didn't leave until 10 after 10 because people just kept coming in...we close at 9
* I've already sold more desserts down here than I did my entire 4 year stint in Morgantown.
* We go through WAY more rolls down here and much less banana nut bread.
* The first questions one was asked up north where typically, "are you a student, what year, what's your major" etc...here, I was asked 3 times my first day, "do you have any kids" haha it was cute
* I get super excited to see kids I used to know because I get to catch up with them and find out what they are up to. It's been 5 years since graduation, and most are finishing up school (if they haven't do so already) so it's cool to chat with them in this transitional part of their lives
* We don't really have rules down here...like we can eat and drink on the server line...people will stay onthe phone all day if they can (some of them), if I'm hungry, I can eat a roll in front of my managers and no one will say a word. Up in the Mo, NONE of those things would have happened EVER! (I'd actually prefer it that way here...)


So there's my list of things!
I can't say which one I like more. Actually, yes I can. I liked working at the one up north more. I LOVE waiting tables, but when I was busy up there, I didn't get flustered because of the demeanor of my customers. Here, it's really hard to get super busy, and have people treat you like dirt. And even if they leave a good tip, it doesn't matter. Money doesn't fix feeling under rated.

Anyway!
There you go!
have a nice day!

Friday, April 11, 2008

Theatre Survey

LAST SHOW ADDED TO YOUR RESUME:
Pamina from Mozart's "The Magic Flute" in scenes
but full show...Poulenc's "Dialogue of the Carmilites"

LAST SHOW YOU AUDITIONED FOR:
opera scenes

LAST SONG YOU USED AT AN AUDITION:
"Dearest Mama" from the Ballad of Baby Doe

WHAT WAS YOUR VERY FIRST SHOW:
"Fiddler on the Roof" when I was a junior in high school


HAVE YOU EVER HAD A DANCE SOLO?:
not a big one! :D


HAVE YOU EVER HAD A SINGING SOLO?
tons of them

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN THE LAST PERSON TO TAKE A BOW?
maybe!? I don't remember



HAVE YOU BEEN TO NEW YORK?
Yes



HAVE YOU BEEN TO LA?:
yup


HAVE YOU BEEN TO LONDON?:
No but I've always wanted to go.



WHAT'S THE SCARIEST PART OF AN AUDITION?:
Knowing the roles in the show, and the fact that I'm the tallest person in the room...that usually means I'll be stuck in the background. haha



WHAT'S THE BEST PART OF AN AUDITION?
knowing it's over



NAME A SHOW YOU WOULD NEVER DO AGAIN:
"The Wizard of Oz"



NAME A SHOW YOU COULD DO FOR YEARS:
"Footloose"


WHAT ARE YOU AUDITIONING FOR NEXT?
Not Annie! :D


DO YOU KEEP IN TOUCH WITH PAST CAST MEMBERS?:
some of them!!!




ON A SCALE OF 1-10, HOW IMPORTANT IS GETTING PAID?
I've never been paid for a role, so it's not! :D



SOMETHING EMBARRASSING OR UNEXPECTED THAT HAPPENED TO YOU WHILE ON STAGE? I swallowed a bug once in "Footloose" and another time, during my Shakespeare scenes for class...my skirt definitely unhooked and fell down in front of the entire acting studio...HOWEVER, it did it in rehearsals the night before, so I was smart enough to wear shorts underneath! :D



EVER BEEN NAKED ON STAGE?:
NO!!!!!!!!!!!



BEEN KILLED?:
ya know...I haven't!



PLAYED DRUNK ON STAGE?:
nope


PLAYED SOMEONE HALF YOUR AGE?:
nah



PLAYED SOMEONE TWICE YOUR AGE?:
I don't think so



FIRED A GUN?
Nope! I, thankfully, never was on stage in the Aracoma Story.



DRIVEN A CAR?
No



BEEN DRENCHED?
No.





BEEN IN A DREAM SEQUENCE?
Does the Fruma Sarah dream in Fiddler count!?



BEEN KISSED?
Not really. haha




I miss the theatre!

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Matt Pillor

Hey,
Today, I got news that a kid I went to college with died in his sleep last night. No one knows details at this time. The Creative Arts Center was kind of like a small high school, so you knew everyone in your class, even if you weren't friends with them. That is how I knew Matt. We had a few classes together early on, but as our programs got more specific (voice for me and oboe for him), we stopped having classes together. He was always a very nice guy and an excellent musician.
I am just asking you to please pray for his friends, family, and girlfriend of 4+ years, Elisa.
Thanks so much.

TV shows!

This was taken from Ms. Hager. I'm a little bored at the house today, if you can't tell! :D

1. Bold the shows you've watched every episode of
2. Italic the shows you've seen at least one episode of
3. Post your answers

50. Quantum Leap
49. Prison Break
48. Veronica Mars
47. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
46. Sex & The City

45. Farscape
44. Cracker
43. Star Trek
42. Only Fools and Horses
41. Band of Brothers

40. Life on Mars
39. Monty Python's Flying Circus
38. Curb Your Enthusiasm
37. Star Trek: The Next Generation
36. Father Ted

35. Alias
34. Frasier
33. CSI: Las Vegas
32. Babylon 5
31. Deadwood

30. Dexter
29. ER
28. Fawlty Towers
27. Six Feet Under
26. Red Dwarf

25. Futurama
24. Twin Peaks
23. The Office UK
22. The Shield
21. Angel

20. Blackadder
19. Scrubs
18. Arrested Development
17. South Park
16. Doctor Who

15. Heroes
14. Firefly
13. Battlestar Galactica
12. Family Guy
11. Seinfeld

10. Spaced
09. The X-Files
08. The Wire
07. Friends
06. 24

05. Lost
04. The West Wing
03. The Sopranos
02. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
01. The Simpsons

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Friday, March 28, 2008

Spring cleaning!

Hello!
I am sorry to say that my posting from here until the end of the summer will probabaly be very sporadic. I am officially living back hom now (minus my bedroom furniture, which I'm bringing down in a Uhall on Sunday) and looking for a job that has nothing to do with the food industry.

My task this week has been to clean out my bedroom (full of living room furniture and mom's sewing stuff) to make room for my stuff. That doesn't sound like such a problem right!? Well...it wouldn't usually be except that sometime about 6 months or so ago, a pipe burst in the basement causing my parents to have to replace the carpet in the downstairs living room. That pretty much means that everything from the living room, ended up in my room that had already been stuffed full of holiday things, etc. (I mean, I don't blame them, I didn't live here!)
So long story short, we cleaned out my brother's room and are in the process of turning it into mom's sewing room...while doing this, we found water damage...which means we had to rip up the carpet, tear down some dry-wall, etc. So our process of cleaning up has been slowed a bit.
*Note: I like pulling up carpet and doing various sorts of demolition things* :D
So at the present moment, skipping a ton of boring details, my room is ready to go and the living room is cleared out enough to bring my stuff through it. :D YAY!
Our house is not gross, it's just cluttered and I'm helping mom go through EVERYTHING to eliminate that problem! (I'm a task master and actually it's been kind of fun to clean...) that is so weird!


As far as the job hunt goes, I applied at the community college down here to be a temp! :D Bethany (the best friend from a few posts before) used to do that, and her mom works in HR there, SO I might have a chance of getting it! :D woohoo. I'd love to work in an office. I think it'd be fun!


"Annie" the musical they are doing this summer with my community theatre is later in the summer than usual, so I can't be in it because I'll be at orientation for the last 2 shows. I'm not really that bummed about it because I HATE that musical. I just wanted something to do here aside from working...BUT I have found a girl that plays on a slow-pitch softball team, so hopefully, I'll be able to do that! YAY! After playing the past 2 summers, I'd rather do that anyway.


There's my update!
I'm sorry it's nothing to write home about.

:D

Friday, March 21, 2008

August Rush

August Rush is one of the best movies I've seen.
I can't even add the prepositional phrase, "in a long time." because It's one of the best films I've seen ever.

wow!
go watch it.
seriously.

A CHORAL ARRANGEMENT OF FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE

I sang this arrangement a couple semesters ago! It's so much fun!

Go watch it!!!!



AMAZING

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Birthday fun

I have wonderful friends who do wonderful things!
Today is my 23rd birthday, and it's the best birthday I've ever had!

Last night the gang went to Texas Roadhouse *as usual on Monday nights* and they made me sit on the saddle and have everyone "yee-haw" for my birthday.
Today Sommer *roommate* and I went to a matinée, learned part of the dance to Devil went down to Georgia, then Mama Hawkins took us to Madelein's for dinner!
THEN, at Bible Study, Laura made a cake and sang to me and Gabe *who's birthday is the 29th!*
Thursday is my official "birthday/going away party" so I'll have MORE fun with friends!

It's been amazing!
I'm also getting really REALLY sad about leaving everyone Monday...


:) and :(

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Let me tell ya 'bout my best friend Part II

I didn't intend on posting another story about Bethany, but I figured you were all dying to know about the Beowulf sock puppet show, so here it is!

Our senior year of high school, we studied the Beowulf epic (as most high school students do). Instead of simply reading this particular story, we had to do a "project." This project could be pretty much whatever we wanted it to be. For example, most of the kids in the classes made movies (which really means that the boys finally got the chance to do stupid things in front of a camera for a grade), others did storyboards, and some drew pictures or made statue things, etc. My friends (Lane, Leeann, Chris, Bethany) and I decided we wanted to do a live show of some sort. The movie idea was way over played anyway. I'm not 100% sure how the idea to do a sock puppet show came about *I THINK it was from Lane's genius* but there we were...5 creative kids, the Beowulf epic adventure, some plain socks, and the bottom half of the Calvary Baptist puppet ministry's stage curtain. I have no recollection of 90% of the details that went into making this show, and actually, the only reason I remember as much as I do is because we have it on tape. I do know, however, that Bethany was the narrator with the WORST British accent ever; Lane was the entire supporting cast and the king of Higlick *spelling*; Chris was Grendel, complete with a sock rolled glue, then rice, and spray pained green; Leeann was the most ghetto Beowulf to ever grace the stage, and I was Grendel's mom, who looked kind of like a bad drag queen *with a deep voice* until I screamed...which sounded like an opera singer. During the making of this production, we decided to reference as many ridiculous things as humanly possible including, but not limited to, The Scarlett Letter, Mario Brothers, Zelda, the phrase "shoot to kill!?", and the king's throne...which was a picture of a bedazzled toilet...

Needless to say, we were super under rehearsed and laughed almost the entire way through, but our teacher *and classmates* loved it so much, that we were forced to do it for the entire junior class. *shrug*

This story isn't nearly as funny (or dorky) as the Arabian Dance, but it still makes me laugh to replay it in my head!




AND I'm pretty sure my stories like this embarrass Bryan, so I figured why not another one! ;)

Friday, March 14, 2008

Let me tell ya 'bout my best friend

My best friend, Bethany, is getting married in May!!!! Her WV bridal shower and bachelorette party are April 5, which means I've been in major maid of honor overdrive. Everything has finally been planned and mailed and I can get back to working on my gift for her. YAY!
Because of the Bethany centered universe I've been living in the past few days, I figured I would tell you a little about our friendship.

We met in the 6th grade at a sleepover and as she says, "we realized we were the biggest dorks at the party and we had to be friends." Which couldn't be more true as you will notice in the pictures following this post. The only thing from that sleepover I remember is having a "talent contest" (which in 6th grade just means that we sang) and the girls couldn't pick who was better, so we tied (or something like that), and playing a game about having dots? and the two of us kept saying "foe" instead of the number "four." *shrug*

Some of my favorite memories involve antics with Bethany. For instance, she was staying the night at my house and we decided choreographing a modern dance to the Arabian Dance from the Nutcracker would be a great idea. *note: neither of us took dance...unless you count tap and ballet at age 3 and 4, which I doubt you do.* The concept of this dance (if you can call it that) was something about 2 lost souls trying to find one another. So we spent the entire length of the song wandering around my bedroom doing the stereotypical dragging of the foot with each step until at long last, on the penultimate measure of the musical piece, we found each other and embraced in a very modern dance sort of way. ...I'm not making this up...though I wish I were because now you have proof of the caliber of our dorkiness. The best part of this creative collaboration, if you will, was a jump and catch thing that we decided to put in. I was supposed to run and leap into Bethany's arms. Now, those of you who've seen me know that the mere thought of all these lanky limbs hurling through the air could could create panic in even the bravest of souls. Bethany realized this fact as well...only I was already in the air when this struck her. In a desperate attempt to save herself, she quickly yelled, "I can't catch you!!!" and jumped out of the way (sort of) causing the two of us to end up in a heap splitting the floor and the edge of the bed. I think we ended up laying there for at least 10 minutes in side splitting pain from all the laughter.

Another memory has to do with 3 other friends, a Beowulf project, and a sock puppet show with Mario Brothers and Zelda theme music, but that's a story for another day. :)

Bethany has been there through almost every phase of my life. She's the kind of friend you only come across once in your life, if you're lucky. We've had our fair share of troubles, as all close friends have. We even went about a year in middle school without speaking (8th grade girls, you know how that can be.) But throughout it all, God has kept pushing us back together. Bethany and I were the first voice majors from Chapmanville (I'm pretty sure in the history of the town EVER...ok maybe not that, but we'd certainly never heard of any.) She went to the University of Charletson and I headed to WVU. When the program at UC folded, she decided she didn't want a degree from a school whose program didn't exist anymore, so she transfered to Lee University in Tennessee (8 hours away from WVU). *WHICH, by the way, she should have gone to right out of high school...it's the only school she ever talked about, but I'm just sayin'* ;) I think we actually went an entire year without seeing one another, but no matter how much time passed, we picked back up where we left off.

Our group of 5 from high school no longer speaks really. Lane is in Illinois being a model and going to rock shows! Natasha just got married the 23rd of this month, and her son Parker is a little over 7 months old. Tabi is an EMT and Volunteer Fire Fighter and is actually helping me plan the bacholerette party!!! Bethany will graduate soon with her degree in Music Education, her fiancee is a youth Pastor in Virginia, working on his Masters of Divinity in...Christian Ministry? perhaps? I have my BM in Vocal Performance and am about to go to Seminary to get my MM in Church Music and my boyfriend is getting his M.Div. in Christian Ministry. It's interesting to see how God has worked through the various stages of our lives, and kept the two of us close in a lot of things. One thing Bethany and I always dreamed about when we were younger was how we were going to live down the street from one another in our silver days in one of the Carolinas, sit in our rocking chairs on the front porch, and sip on sweet tea while our husbands hung out somewhere else. Honestly, that may never happen, BUT when Jonathan *her fiancee* and Bryan get together, it feels like gatherings just might go a little something like this:
Bryan and Jonathan talk about ::insert some highly intellectual theological discussion here::
while Berf and I run around like 5 year olds, singing random songs from All State, and laughing at the top of our lungs. This will be the situation for the rest of our lives and I can't wait.
She is truly the best friend I have ever had the privilege of knowing.


Enjoy the pictures!
These were taken over Thanksgiving Break after seeing our High School Choir's "Bah Humbug" - a musical version of "A Christmas Carol".


If ONLY you knew us in the 7th grade...




We used to dress up in prom dresses and such and take pictures with a fan blowing our hair...so this is recreating that...I also can't believe I'm giving you more proof of how dorky we were/still are! Some things you never outgrow.



Obviously, I'm blinded by her rock.



I don't associate with white chicks who throw gang signs...



This is one of the only normal pictures ever taken of us.





Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Singers

I know I said I'd post an update, but I've been inspired to make a list of favored vocalists.
This isn't necessarily my "top of all time" or anything, nor are they in any particular order, just a list of lead singers who tear it up vocally! I'm actually a huge snob about vocalists. I don't really listen to bands with singers who don't sing well. You can call that whatever you want, but I can't really help what I like/how I've been trained.
I hope you enjoy!?

* Freddy Mercury - Queen
* Steve Perry - Journey
* Dennis DeYoung and Tommy Shaw - Styx
* Ann Wilson - Heart
* Martina McBride
* Terry Kath - Chicago
* Phil Collins
* Kevin Cronin - REO Speedwagon
* Christina Aguilera
* Amy Lee - Evanescence
* Michael Buble
* Linda Eder
* Adam Levine - Maroon 5
* Pat Benetar
* Gary LeVox - Rascal Flatts
* Stevie Wonder
* Shannon Hoon - Blind Melon
* Brad Detar - The Juliana Theory
* Whitney Houston


The list goes on and on, but those are a few!

k bye!

The boyfriend...

is HILARIOUS!
GO look at his latest blog post:
Five Unquestionable Truths

oh no!
haha


<3


An actual post will follow in sometime. I'm kind of of Maid of Honor overdrive at the moment AND I'm in my last 4 days of work *YAY*, so I'll get around to ti sooner or later!
:D