This is not good...

I've got Mono....

This sucks....

I did not need this now....

It's Jazz time again!

Well, it's another year of the NDSU Jazz Festival, and it should be an awesome one! We are bringing in three musicians from New Orleans who were here early fall semester, and I promise you they are great! It is going to be an exciting concert. It's on February 4th at 7:00 at the Festival Concert Hall at NDSU, at it's FREE!!!!!

So far it's been an allright semester. I am taking my final classes before I student teach in the fall. I know I've been in college for longer than the average student, but I still can't believe that in less than a year I am going to have a degree. Honestly, after that I really don't have much of an idea of what I'm going to do afterwards, but right now I'm just concentrating on getting done with school. I have all those student loans to look forward to....

I am playing in the pit orchestra for LCT's "A Chorus Line" this year. It doesn't pay anything, but sometimes it is good just to get your name out there more. Last time I played for an LCT production, I got hired for a wel-paying musical.

This weekend Patents Pending is playing at the American Legion on Friday and Saturday night. We are going to debut some tunes that we previously haven't played before, and I think everyone will enjoy the additions. You should all come out and support us, because right now we need to show this town that we can get crowds of people! So come! You'll have a good time, I promise!!

I should get to bed now. I've been sick with strepthroat for about a week now, but at least it's a strain that does not hurt. I call it a baby strain of strep...

Take care.

Wow... What a week it has been... So many things have happened over the past week that it has been an overwhelming experience. So, let's start from the beginning...

Early morning on Tuesday Aaron's father, Walter, passed away. I got the call from Aaron at about 5:00 a.m. So that day I went to work and got Wednesday and Thursday off to go to Bismarck. I think my boss wasn't too happy about it just from the look on his face, but I didn't care at the moment.

On Wednesday I drove 8 hours from Worthington, MN to Bismarck, ND. During the whole time I was there I helped out in whatever I could. I just wanted to be there for Aaron and to be sure that he was getting through his loss as best as he could.

The viewing was on Thursday. The weather was not very good, but most of the family was there anyway. There was a prayer service that evening where members of the family shared stories of Walter which made me laugh and cry. The funeral was on Friday morning. It was a very nice service. Aaron and Erika sang "Amazing Grace", which was Walter's favorite hymn. I was very proud of those two at that moment, as I'm sure their father was too. Aaron wrote a tribute to his father on his website. If you want to see it, go to www.danoandchris.com. It makes me cry every time I read it....

I have only met his father twice. Once for Thanksgiving, and once over a weekend when he first went to the hospital. However, in just those two events, I feel blessed to have at least met him. I can see now where Aaron gets some of his wonderful traits from. Walter was a very kind man. I only wish I could have gotten to know him better. I'm sure I missed out on something great...