Bicycle Built for Two! Haha

Picture of Andrew and I on a tandem bike. Hilarious!

Hi Everyone!

Wow, I can’t believe we’re already back.  It’s official . . . I’m graduating this semester. What a trip. Seriously, I think I am in denial.  I just scheduled my senior recital for April 15–so, it won’t just be taxes keeping me up that week. Haha. It’s only the second day of school, but I think I am already forming some opinions about a few of my classes.

I’m taking American and Texas government and politics . . . very exciting . . . and my teacher seems like the type who tends to say offensive things without knowing it. You know what I mean? Like, he thinks he is just telling a great joke, but everyone in the class is like. . .  uhhh . . . . Anyway, that should provide some good stories.

I hope everyone’s winter break was as good as mine. I had a seriously great time.  I spent the first week in utah, then Andrew and I drove to Arizona to spend a little over a week with my family, then back to Utah for a few days.  Since my little brother, Blake, was going to be leaving home for two years, and we won’t be able to talk with him, my parents planned all kinds of fun stuff for us all to do together over the break.  One day we all borrowed cruiser bicycles from friends and family and went on like an 8 mile bike ride around Scottsdale.  Andrew and I tore it up on a tandem bike. It was a crack up.

We also got to play a few gigs during the break.  Andrew and I played in Utah with the head of Jazz piano from the university of Utah–that was pretty fun. We also played once in Arizona.  I’ll put up some pics so you can see.

Well, I guess those were the highlights. Good luck with week 1, y’all!

Here’s a picture of our AZ gig.

Meeoow! Haha

   

How do we compare? .  .  .

Hi Friends!

Wow, it has been forever since I have written . . . I CAN’T believe it’s already Novemeber. The semester is flying by.  Well, not too much has been going on. As usual, I have been up to my eyes in music stuff.  I’ve been doing a lot of composition and a lot of arranging.  My recital was a few weeks ago–SO glad to have that over.

I hope everyone had a fanstastic halloween. All of the Eagle Ambassadors had an early start on Saturday, October 31st. haha. We were at work at 6:15am for North Texas Preview. You know, it really wasnt’ that bad–for sure the best preview day I have participated in thus far. 

Other than that, I didnt’ do too much on Halloween.  My roommate and I passed out some candy and then both dressed up as cats and went to a halloween party with some friends in Dallas.  We were kind of lame and left at like 11:30. haha. So . . . tired . . .

Well, Thanksgiving is three weeks from today . . . and Finals are done three weeks after that, I think. Wow. Wrappin up! It’s funny how the fall semester always seems to happen this way. It’s over before you even remember which classes are Monday and which ones are Tuesday. Seriously, though.

I think we are in week 10 now . . . which means that a lot of you are probably having a lot of tests this week. Good luck!

Emily

p.s. For any who are reading . . . let me know if there are any specific topics you’d like discussion on.  I aim to please.

Here’s a pic from my recital . . .

Feeling Swamped? Need Motivation?

Wow. I can’t believe this semester is flying by so quickly! I don’t know about all of you, but I kind of feel like this semester is passing me by—like  it’s running, running, running, and I’m standing three feet away, sticking my toe in it periodically.  Seriously.  I have a theory that this is happening because I was in classes the whole summer. The fall semester has begun and I’m like “what? It’s not summer anymore?” Haha.

So , I thought that today I would talk about two things . . .

1)      Tips for Time Management: Woo hoo! Haha, I know . . . it’s the last thing you want to hear, I’m sure. But really, when things are busy (and I know things are busy for all of you) good time management is the only thing that will keep you from drowning.  The best advice I can give about time management would be to BE AWARE OF YOUR TIME.  That means that most of us have 16-20 waking hours per day, but we are probably only doing something tangible for half of that time (in class, at work, at a meeting for your organization, in the library . . .) So, my advice is to be aware of what is going on between those things.  Try to fill your little fifteen minute breaks with something productive.  Maybe you’ll be shocked to find that you have three hours’ worth of fifteen minute gaps in your day. Wouldn’t that be nice.

2)      Maintaining Motivation: The closer and closer we come to Thanksgiving break, the less motivated I will become—it’s just a fact.   However, I have found in semesters past, that if I am working on at least one thing that I am excited about (probably something that hasn’t been assigned to me), I will be much more likely to maintain motivation both in and out of school. So maybe before we all get too bogged down, it would be cool to get involved in a project, large or small, that can help you keep morale throughout this semester’s doldrums. Maybe you could set a goal to work out X times in a week, or read a good book at least once a month, or get work started on a private business you’ve been mulling over for years. Haha. Lame as it may sound, it totally keeps me motivated to have some kind of non-school-related project in the works at all times.

Well people, I hope that as mid-semester approaches, you will all be able to keep your heads above water!

Good luck everybody.

P.S. Once again, if anyone has suggestions of topics you’d like to hear me

address, just leave a comment in the box. Thanks!

Happy 1/5 semester completion! Haha

Here’s a picture from my Utah trip. On the left is my boyfriend, Andrew. On the right is my little brother, Blake. My two favorite boys!

Hello again!

Shockingly, we are suddenly in the middle of September. When did that happen? Yesterday I was in class and one of my professors was like “class, on Friday of this week, the semester will be 20% completed.” I’m guessing that this means everyone will start having a lot of tests soon.  I wish everyone the best of luck with that.

The semester has been fabulous thus far. I am officially only taking classes for my major now—something about which I am thrilled.  I can’t believe it’s gone by so fast! I’m suddenly taking the GRE and preparing for grad school and realizing that my senior recital is WAY too close for comfort. 

My trip to Utah was really fantastic.  While I was there I got to see my little brother (he goes to school there). It just proves to me that time really is passing this quickly.  When I started college my brother was barely in high school. It totally freaks me out.

The weather there was so gorgeous. I’m thinking, though, that our weather is heading that way very soon. This last week has been so cloudy and rainy I may have already forgotten how nasty and hot it has been this last month, haha.

Well friends, all I can say is that I am so happy to be back. For all of our new Eagles on campus, I hope y’all are getting into the swing of things and enjoying the Mean Green. For those of us who are tried and true, good luck with another year!

–Emily

P.S. If anyone has a topic that you would like me to address in a blog post, just leave a comment in my box.  Thanks!

Welcome Back!

Here’s a pic of the new Eagle Ambassador team! So cute.

Hello everybody!

Despite the fact that I am still mourning the departure of summer, I am really excited for this semester.  For the first time, 100% of my classes are for my major.  Hopefully I can really focus on practicing this semester. 

Last week we had training for the new Eagle Ambassador team. It was so much fun! I can’t wait to see how the year goes.  I think it’ll be a good one.

So, good news: I don’t know if y’all have heard yet, but U.S. World News & Report has selected UNT as one of the top 10 up and coming schools for this year. That means that out of all of the universities in the country, we have some of the most innovative new technology, highly qualified new faculty members, and promising new programs. I’m not gonna lie, I’m pretty proud.

I can’t wait to see all the changes that will be going on at the university in the next couple of years.  So much cool stuff is in the works right now.

Hmmm . . . what else?  . . . Other than starting school, I’m not up to much. I’m pumped for my trip next weekend.  Actually, I kind of feel like school hasn’t really started yet, haha.  I have a feeling that I will have a difficult time paying attention next week.

I hope you all enjoy your first full week of school.

Good luck everyone!

Here’s a random video. Let me know what you think. My roommates and I laughed pretty hard at it. Go shorty!

Wrappin’ it up

Picture of me and friends before the church roadshow . . .

Hey everyone,

Well, I haven’t been up to too incredibly much lately—just trying to tie up some loose ends before the fall semester starts. Highlights . . . . A few weeks ago, my church put on this roadshow for a community project where we all put together little skits. I was in charge of all of the music/dance for the show. It was pretty funny.

In other news, I just got asked to sing lead vocals in a disco band. HAHA! So, I recorded a demo of “dancing queen” last week. I’ve also been trying to recruit some new voice students for the fall semester. I FINALLY made some business cards—it’s been on my to do list for months.

We are almost done with summer classes. Hooray! I’m taking my final tomorrow. Then, next week we will be training the new eagle ambassadors for the 2009-2010 year. I’m super excited about that. I just got a plane ticket to visit Utah over Labor Day weekend—so I have that to look forward to.

Is it just me, or has this summer completely flown by? I’m serious, I feel like we just finished spring semester last week. Well friends, we have two weeks left before we settle in again—I hope everybody can make the most of it!

AZ Baby!

Hi everybody,

Well, I just got back from my trip to Arizona. It was seriously great.  I’m lame though, and forgot to take pictures, so hopefully my descriptions are good. :) So . . . highlights . . . well, of course I went to the midnight showing of Harry Potter. It was fab.  (I actually saw it twice—kind of embarrassing, but what can I say?).

 

I got up at 4:30 am to hike camelback mountain. It’s only about 1.2 miles, but it’s crazy steep, and you have to pretty much climb the whole time—like, hands and knees climbing.  There’s one part of the mountain that is so steep, that they have this steel rod you have to hold onto to climb up.  I’m not gonna lie, it’s pretty much the most intense thing I’ve done in years.

Oh, I also went to the driving range . . . like, golf . . . and I might possibly be the most athletically challenged person you will ever know.  So the whole time I was there, I think I only made contact with like eight golf balls. But—against all odds—one of the balls I hit pelted this duck. Seriously, I whacked a duck! It was crazy. The duck was like hobbling around the green quacking really loud. It was so sad. 

Other than that, I pretty much just hung out with my family and friends and ate a ton of great Mexican food. I thoroughly enjoyed the sunsets and fully appreciated the left-hand turn lanes.  BUT, I am glad to be back in the Lonestar state!

So . . . did I make up for my lack of photos from AZ?

Independence Day Weekend

Me and my cute cousins at the 4th of July Parade!

Hi everybody! 

           Well, the first summer semester is almost over. My final is tomorrow at 8:00am. Ugh. Fortunately, I have been buckling down for the last few weeks, and my grades thus far have all been pretty good—so hopefully everything will be ok for tomorrow, too.

            The fourth of July was super fun. On Friday night I went down to Dallas to go to Kaboom-town with my friends. Then I went over to my little cousins’ house for a sleep over. J They are so adorable—four and six. We got up in the morning and saw the parade, then we just played all day.  After I left there I went up to hang with some friends in Lewisville, and we watched “Independence Day” from the pool. It was awesome.

            In other awesome news, I am going to AZ in two days! I’m super pumped. I can’t wait to go home and see all my family and friends. I haven’t been out there since December. Wow. I think while I’m there I’m going to get in some good hiking. I miss the mountains when I’m out here in the Lonestar state.  And boy do I miss the sunsets.

            Well, I hope that everyone is doing great and enjoying the summer. Good luck with finals!

Summer Fun Cont.

Me and my cute roommate Chelsea in Missouri at Bandana’s BBQ. Yum. 

Hello all! 

I hope everyone’s summer is great so far. Unfortunately, it seems to be flying by much too quickly. :) We are officially on the way out of summer five-week one classes.  Two weeks left.  Man, class every day from 8-11am is NOT my cup of tea. 

So, my trip to Missouri was GREAT. I’m not gonna lie, I was a jet ski master.  Seriously. Other than playing on the jet skis and in the water at the lake, we mostly just played a ton of rockband and ate a million M&Ms. No joke—I didn’t think it was possible, but I think my M&M tolerance has expanded.  It would not be wise to challenge me to and M&M eating contest . . . I would probably win.  

What else is new? Umm . . . Ok, totally nerdy confession: So I’m reading this non-fiction book that sort of uses a lot of natural metaphors to come to conclusions about society, and there is this entire chapter about parasites, so I have been COMPLETELY freaked out these past few days about all the crazy parasites in the world. Did you know there is a species of lice for almost every other species on the planet!?!?!? Sick. 

Well, I guess that’s about it. I get to go home and visit my family and friends in AZ in two weeks! I’m super excited about it. Until next time . . . 

Oh, and in memory of the King of Pop, here is Billie Jean:

Summer is Here!

Jazz Singers “30 Years of Vocal Jazz” reunion concert:

Hi everybody.  Well, we’re starting in on the second week of summer. It’s been great so far.  I’ve mostly been reading a lot and catching up on some projects I’ve been meaning to work on.  Tomorrow I’m headed up to Missouri to my roommate’s family’s lakehouse.  That should be super fun. 

My voice—which was completely gone for about 10 days—is now almost all the way better. I’m still missing some of my high notes—but I think it’ll be ok.  I’ve been drinking TONS of tea.  I’m especially fond of this raspberry tea I just bought. Mmmm.

I’m taking guitar lessons now.  I figured it was about time for me to learn another instrument. :) I’ve been trading my friend Polo voice lessons for guitar lessons. It’s a pretty sweet deal. 

Hmm. What else?  I just bought my plane tickets to go see my family in AZ in July—totally pumped about that.  A couple of my friends who have been out of the country for a few years will finally be back, so I’ll get to see them. 

Honestly, things are kind of boring—just as they should be in the summertime. :)  I hope everyone is enjoying the sun as much as I am!

Here’s one more pic: UNTJazz Singer I at Addison Jazz Festival