Family, Turkey, and Pumpkin Pie

                                                      

The traditional family Thanksgiving. Most people have that one person in the family in charge of making dinner and everyone gets together at that persons house. Not in my family. My family is so big we have about 2 or 3 people who host Thanksgiving dinner all at different times on Thanksgiving Day. I have 3 sets of grandparents. Carmen and Rene, Cyndy and Buddy, and Barbara. Barbara usually hosts "dinner" at 11 or 12. Everyone from that side of the family will get together and they all bring a dish. All of the younger siblings, including myself because I'm the cool cousin, run around the house wrestling, playing hide and seek, and bickering. At Carmen and Rene's house we eat dinner at 4 or 5 which is when people usually eat Thanksgiving dinner. It's usually just me, mom, and my sister, and my grandparents. Sometimes my great aunt and uncle show up, but that's on rare occasions. Then we go to Cyndy and Buddy's house. That's when we crack open the desert and the real fun begins. We usually play family feud and go crazy with yelling across the house. It's quite fun, but sometimes it's a little to much to handle. After all the wonderful food and crazy family fun, we all go home and....SLEEP!! Eating is a lot of hard work.  :)

My Symphony and Everything in Between

The Prelude.

My senior year of high school I was very laid back and never really did anything except volunteer and go to school. It was very boring. I went to school in my pajamas almost everyday and didn't even care. That's right, I didn't care. There was no need to dress up because I slept in half of my classes and changed for dance class.

Movement I: Summer.

Over the summer I started to do more and more things. I started going out with friends more often and stayed out later, but of course with my mom's permission.  :)

Movement II: Move-In Day.

On move-in day I was a little shy, but I think everyone was. It was very chaotic because I didn't know what was going on or who I was suppose to see for this or that. I was afraid that my roommate and I would hate each other and drive one another crazy.

Movement III: New Friends.

My roommate and I get along great and plan on rooming together for the next 4 years. During my first few weeks I was afraid that I wouldn't make any friends, but I've made plenty of crazy people just like me. A few to name, Emily McKibben (my roommate), Mary Fran, Madeline, and Caitlin.

Movement IV: The Journey.

Being at Converse has changed me a lot even though I've only been here for a few months. I've gone out and explored the world as an adult. I've stayed up until all hours of the night doing homework and projects. I've made midnight Krispy Kreme and Wal-Mart runs and a few other unmentionable things. I've done things that I would never do at home and it has all been, so far, a wonderful experience.

The Finale.

For the next 4 years of my life at Converse I plan to study Music Education and eventually become a high school orchestra director. I hope to explore the world a little more and learn lots of new things and have even more wonderful experiences. I hope to make more friends and impact students lives one day like many of my teachers have impacted me.

New Traditions

One of my favorite traditions at Converse is 1889 week. We all get to compete against our fellow sisters for the glory of winning spirit week and the 1889 cup. If I were to create a new tradition it would be a play off of 1889 week. I would get all of us beautiful women to dress up as if we were form the 1880's. We could even count it towards points just like we do for Purple Friday. It would really be in the spirit of the week and I think it would even bring us closer as a community since we would be able to see how they dressed and even lived back when the school was originally started. I don't know what else to say other than I think this is a really cool idea, obviously or I wouldn't have posted this.   :)

Music: The Stress or The Reliever?!?

Being a music major can sometimes become very stressful. We have to take so many classes that pertain to music it can sometimes drive us a little crazy. However, we must not forget to stop and remember why we started playing our instrument or or started singing. We do it because we love it and other musicians in our favorite bands inspired us to start. Here are some examples of my current favorite songs by some of my favorite artists.

Here is the song All the Right Moves by a group called One Republic. I love this song, mostly because I think the music video is awesome, but the lyrics are kind of relieving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrOeGCJdZe4&ob=av2e

Another song I love is called If I had you by Adam Lambert. It's more of a party song and I find it rather uplifting when I 'm stressed out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmXQFwlD7vk&ob=av2e

One of my all time favorite songs is called Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars. It's wonderful and every girl in the world should be told this at some point in her life. I makes me happy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjhCEhWiKXk

 Another two of my favorite songs are from Phantom of the Opera.  Basically almost every song from Phantom of the Opera I love, but these two are my favorite. They make my soul sing!!  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwKTWG7GiDU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBYoarsGLXc

We must never forget that just because sometimes the music looks hard and can frustrate us doesn't mean we have to give up and let the stress win. If you feel like giving up, just listen to your favorite song.

A water for you, a vodka tonic for me!!!

Should the drinking age be lowered from 21 to 18?  I think so, and not because that would mean I would be able to drink. 

Most teenagers drink because they're not supposed to. It's like when your parents' tell you not to eat the cookies. You want to eat the cookies just because they told you not to. If the drinking age were lowered to 18 teenagers wouldn't have the urge to drink because it would be legal. It's just not as fun when you're allowed to do it. There's no excitement or adrenaline.

Another reason the drinking age should be lowered, is that if you can serve in the military and die for your country at the age 18, then why shouldn't we be able to drink at the age of 18? It just doesn't make any sense. Why should one be able to die for their country, but not be able to have an alcoholic drink?

Another point to make is that one can buy cigarettes and get a tattoo at the age of 18, so why shouldn't one be allowed to drink. If we're allowed to kill our selves with cigarettes, why shouldn't on e be able to drink?

There are so many different reasons as to why the drinking age should be lowered and as to why it shouldn't be lowered. What's your point of view?

Futurizing the Flock

In two years when I'm part of the Big Sister Class, I think that I'd say a few things about organization and stress. Those are very important especially your first year.

If you don’t get organized as a freshman, it’s very difficult to get organized later on as an upper classman. A few things you can do to help get organized are to make a schedule with your classes, practice time, lesson time, eating, homework, and study time. Then keep a planner so that you can add extra last minute things such as recitals, hanging with friends, and visiting family. I had to do this as a freshman and it really helped me because I could see everything at one time and I always knew what I was doing. Making both of these will really keep you from being stressed. Being stressed is hard. If you have this planner or schedule, then you don’t freak out about your homework not being done or not being able to practice enough because all you have to do is what you schedule says and stick to it!

One thing you want to make sure you DON’T do is over practice. Over practicing can sometimes cause problems. (HEHE) You might practice so much that you forget how the music goes!! (Yes it is possible) You might hurt yourself physically, for example getting tendonitis, carpotunnel, sometimes even shoulder or back pain. If you EVER have pain, tell someone right away. Don’t just let it fest because it can only get worse. Trust me, I know!!

Time Management!!! Tick Tock!!!

Topic: Blog about your biggest time management challenge-is it oversleeping, spending too much time on social media such as Facebook, juggling work and family responsibilities, or something else?


My BIGGEST Time Management problem is that I like to par-take in lots of activities such as orchestra, Key Club, Dance, Fencing, etc. I like to be a part of the community but always seem to undertake to much and then not know how to organize it. Sometimes I make spread sheets to help organize my life, like my classes and my club activities, but then I will spontaneously decide to do something else such as go to the movies or hang out with friends. 


Another one of my big problems is FACEBOOK!!!!   I think I'm addicted...and that can sometimes cause problems.  :D    For example as I'm typing this blog I'm on Facebook trying to figure out who my Big sister is, talking to my cousin, and I'm being distracted by the frogs I just bought. (They're so cute!!)


Then I end up having a huge pile of homework and no time to get it done. Sometimes I even fall asleep doing homework because I'm too exhausted from all of the other activities. One would think that by now I would have this down to an art, but I don't. Even though it's gotten a lot better I still overwhelm myself in activities and fall asleep doing homework.  HELP ME!!!!!