the last few days in a few words
~no sleep the night before Christmas Eve thanks to Nathan's massive indigestion all over my bathroom... he cleaned it up and everything, but thanks to my severe phobia of even being in the vicinity of someone who vomited, I couldn't fall asleep until 5:30 a.m and had to wake up at 9
~2 services at my church on Christmas Eve... Bobby did an awesome job on trumpet and got a ton of great comments, my bells played absolutely better than I could have dreamed, and the choir gave me goosebumps, it was beautiful. Followed by the late service at my dad's church... it's so nice to hear him preach and to be able to sit through a service and just SIT, no playing. I did sing in the choir but no big. My FAVORITE service of the church year. Silent Night brings me to tears every year and I don't know why but I'm a big cheese ball and I swear I can feel God in that moment.
~Christmas morning spent in Ida, Christmas afternoon/evening spent in Warren. Lots of family and lots of sleeping.
~Saw Bolt... definitely cute but most of the best lines were already given away in the trailer. Hate that.
~Nice to be back home in Saline. We have leaking issues however... I'm getting a lot of use out of my pots and pans.
Not a lot of gifts but that's normal for my family... Christmas has never been about presents for us. Bobby and I didn't get each other anything this year because the Wii was both anniversary and Christmas. I got some super comfy pj pants from my grandma, TWO new batons from my dad (my old one broke after my church's Christmas concert and these ones were on sale so now I have a back-up), a BIG George Foreman from Bobby's aunt Sandra, Grey's Anatomy Seasons 3 & 4 from Bobby's mom (she always gets me FAR too much), and probably the highlight was the ipod that we all bought my dad. He was geeked.
My bell choir got me a $60 Visa gift card which is so sweet of them. ONE lady in the choir wrote me a check for $100. I couldn't believe it. They all usually chip in cash but this was just one woman's generosity and appreciation for what I do... it was really moving actually. Anyway thanks to her my credit card is paid off which is always a relief.
Found a church in Saline to practice at. It's an ELCA Lutheran and Episcopal combo. I'm intrigued. I think people worry too much about titles and labels. I'm proud of my denomination because my synod in particular represents a lot of forward-thinking and open-mindedness, but I don't define my faith by it. Anyway the organ isn't a pipe organ but it's a very nice electric one and perfect for practicing. They gave me a key, no questions asked, and the organist there is the U of M music librarian... can someone say connections?
I now live about 5 minutes away from Pastor Kurt. My brother and I went to see him the other day. Pastor Kurt is hands-down the most knowledgeable man I have ever known. He could teach music history 1,000 times better than Dr. Pierce could, and it would just be head knowledge. He's like a sponge with information and he can report it all back... politics, religion, music history... it's incredible. And he asked if I'd be interested in inheriting his CD collection when he dies. It's morbid but he knows he'll be gone within a year from now. I said I would be honored. He's got an absolutely amazing collection and I know that I can appreciate it and truly treasure that piece of him. Seriously he's got one wall in his basement covered in shelves full of CDs. Organ music, operas, classical, baroque, renaissance, Gregorian chant... EVERYTHING.
Had my EMG test. Um... it SUCKED. They stick needles into your hand and arm muscles and wiggle them around. But the good news is there is nothing wrong with my nerves/muscles. I have another appointment on Tuesday and hopefully THEY can figure out why my wrist has been hurting. Stress fracture? Tendinitis? I just want to know so I can know how to fix it. I want to practice like normal again. I want to practice beyond normal... hours and hours alone with an organ, that's all I want right now. I have to make up my jury SOON so I can focus on a million other things. I feel so behind and like I'm losing time. My motivation in my music is always a race against time... the time I have left in my insignificant lifetime to improve. And I've lost an entire month and that depresses me.
I thought this entry would be a lot shorter. I really need to shower. And eat. And figure out music for tomorrow morning. In that order.
I hope everyone's Christmas has been glorious so far. Christmas isn't over until Jan. 6! The celebration continues! Leave up your decorations, keep visiting with family, and keep feeling the love!
~2 services at my church on Christmas Eve... Bobby did an awesome job on trumpet and got a ton of great comments, my bells played absolutely better than I could have dreamed, and the choir gave me goosebumps, it was beautiful. Followed by the late service at my dad's church... it's so nice to hear him preach and to be able to sit through a service and just SIT, no playing. I did sing in the choir but no big. My FAVORITE service of the church year. Silent Night brings me to tears every year and I don't know why but I'm a big cheese ball and I swear I can feel God in that moment.
~Christmas morning spent in Ida, Christmas afternoon/evening spent in Warren. Lots of family and lots of sleeping.
~Saw Bolt... definitely cute but most of the best lines were already given away in the trailer. Hate that.
~Nice to be back home in Saline. We have leaking issues however... I'm getting a lot of use out of my pots and pans.
Not a lot of gifts but that's normal for my family... Christmas has never been about presents for us. Bobby and I didn't get each other anything this year because the Wii was both anniversary and Christmas. I got some super comfy pj pants from my grandma, TWO new batons from my dad (my old one broke after my church's Christmas concert and these ones were on sale so now I have a back-up), a BIG George Foreman from Bobby's aunt Sandra, Grey's Anatomy Seasons 3 & 4 from Bobby's mom (she always gets me FAR too much), and probably the highlight was the ipod that we all bought my dad. He was geeked.
My bell choir got me a $60 Visa gift card which is so sweet of them. ONE lady in the choir wrote me a check for $100. I couldn't believe it. They all usually chip in cash but this was just one woman's generosity and appreciation for what I do... it was really moving actually. Anyway thanks to her my credit card is paid off which is always a relief.
Found a church in Saline to practice at. It's an ELCA Lutheran and Episcopal combo. I'm intrigued. I think people worry too much about titles and labels. I'm proud of my denomination because my synod in particular represents a lot of forward-thinking and open-mindedness, but I don't define my faith by it. Anyway the organ isn't a pipe organ but it's a very nice electric one and perfect for practicing. They gave me a key, no questions asked, and the organist there is the U of M music librarian... can someone say connections?
I now live about 5 minutes away from Pastor Kurt. My brother and I went to see him the other day. Pastor Kurt is hands-down the most knowledgeable man I have ever known. He could teach music history 1,000 times better than Dr. Pierce could, and it would just be head knowledge. He's like a sponge with information and he can report it all back... politics, religion, music history... it's incredible. And he asked if I'd be interested in inheriting his CD collection when he dies. It's morbid but he knows he'll be gone within a year from now. I said I would be honored. He's got an absolutely amazing collection and I know that I can appreciate it and truly treasure that piece of him. Seriously he's got one wall in his basement covered in shelves full of CDs. Organ music, operas, classical, baroque, renaissance, Gregorian chant... EVERYTHING.
Had my EMG test. Um... it SUCKED. They stick needles into your hand and arm muscles and wiggle them around. But the good news is there is nothing wrong with my nerves/muscles. I have another appointment on Tuesday and hopefully THEY can figure out why my wrist has been hurting. Stress fracture? Tendinitis? I just want to know so I can know how to fix it. I want to practice like normal again. I want to practice beyond normal... hours and hours alone with an organ, that's all I want right now. I have to make up my jury SOON so I can focus on a million other things. I feel so behind and like I'm losing time. My motivation in my music is always a race against time... the time I have left in my insignificant lifetime to improve. And I've lost an entire month and that depresses me.
I thought this entry would be a lot shorter. I really need to shower. And eat. And figure out music for tomorrow morning. In that order.
I hope everyone's Christmas has been glorious so far. Christmas isn't over until Jan. 6! The celebration continues! Leave up your decorations, keep visiting with family, and keep feeling the love!