The first day of Summer...

Well, it was the first official day of summer, and it came in with hot and humidity. I can handle hot much better than humidity. Icky!

I started work on Sunday. It was the same old stuff with some different people. Today at work I got to get trained in on the new cash registers. Talk about being bored out of my mind. But it did end well as I learned that I got a 50 cent raise and will be having more power in the back room, which is where I prefer working anyway. So that was the excitment of the day today.

Tomorrow night we have a city band concert, and it is supposed to get into the 90's tomorrow. I hope it cools down a little bit before the concert. I love outdoor concerts, but not when it is sweltering hot! This year we are doing something different at the concerts. After the intermission, we have something called the "Kiddie Parade". That's where we play a march while the kids in the park get led around by someone in the band, and at the end they get a piece of candy. Well, this year the director has asked if some young kid would like to "direct" the band. So a little kid comes up and "conducts" the band. The real director is behind them helping them along. At least we are playing a straight-forward march where we don't have to look at a director. It is really cute to see a little kid directing. They seem to enjoy it. Last week the little girl even gave a bow at the end....

Well, I have nothing more to write for now. So I'll leave it at that....

Back home again...

Well, I got back to Worthington a couple days ago for the rest of the summer. I finished my class of Intro. to Psych. and got a "B" in it. So now I'm going to be here for about a month before I start traveling here and there for the rest of the summer.

Saturday night was my last night in Fargo. That afternoon I spent it with Andrew. We just hung out at the house since it was pouring rain for most of it. We watched the Belmont Stakes, which was an awesome race! For those of you who are even slightly interested in horses, if you saw that race you would agree with me.

That night I went to the HoDo to meet up with Christopher, Joel, Erica, Russ, Jenny, Ben, Tim, Ruth, and Rick. I have never been so comfortable in a bar before! It was the first time there for me, and those chairs they have there are wonderful! I compare it to a coffee house atomosphere that served high-priced alcohol. It was good to spend my last night among friends. Christopher told me several times that I couldn't go home. But I did promise to work for the city band here, and I do have to be home for some time. I miss my animals and my family too much. And my best friend Denae is going to be moving to Arizona at the end of the month, so I have to spend as much time with her as I can before she leaves. Once she's gone it's going to be pretty lonely here.

So far, I've spent my time unpacking things, going to the gym and starting to work on my tan, and lounging. Tomorrow I am going to go to the store and tell them that I can start working. I wish I could have a summer where I could do whatever I want, but still get paid for it. Hmmm.....

After the month is done, I am going to be one busy lady. I plan on visiting Kristian in the Cities area, Joan is having a bachelorette party, Al and Annika are having a wedding dance that I am playing for, my cousin Shawn is getting married, Joan's wedding, the Renaissance Festival, then right after that marching band starts. It'll be a busy summer....

So, it's been a while since I last updated this thing, if you count 2 months as a while! I cannot say that nothing has happened during this time. Many things have happened and it may take several entries to tell them all! Let's start small though...

At the end of April I had my recital. It was shared with Annika Reynolds. I was very excited coming up to it, and there were some good things that happened in my playing, but I have to admit that I was less than pleased with my performance. My endurance wasn't where it should have been, and I was dumb and wore my suit, which with the stage lights made it very warm! There were a couple moments where I thought I was going to faint because I was so warm. But in the end, there were some good things that came from it. Annika did an exeptional job! I am always amazed at what she can do. My parents came up for it, and I was glad that they were there. All in all, it was a good experience for me. I may do another half-recital next year, but that is still up in the air!

As of now I am taking a summer class that is only 4 weeks long. I'm halfway through it and it is going well. I am living at my aunt and uncle's house in West Fargo. I always deeply appreciate them for letting me live there, eat their food, use their water, and pretty much everything! I am working in the concert hall in the music building. There are times where we do some actual work, but most of the time it consists of sitting. Although I did get a tour of the basement of the building and got to go on the roof. Kind of neat I think...........

The annual Jass Festival was last weekend, and it went wonderfully! We got to perform at Island Park in the gazebo they have there, and the weather cooperated beautifully. It was great to perform with quality musicians and see people that I haven't seen in a year. If you want to see pictures and read about it from Chrisopher's perspective, got to www.danoandchris.com and read all about it!

Well, I have to get started on a paper for my psych class, so I better get to it. As you all know, I am great at procrastinating.....