Graduation Day!

Today I graduated with my master's degree in Flute Performance from CSULB!!! :) That's me with my awesome master's hood which I unfortunately had to return...rental only...

My friend Katie Feistel was there to support me! It meant a lot that she would take off work to come watch me graduate! Especially since she just went to UT to see her sister graduate last weekend. Below is me with my flute professor Dr. John Barcellona with his cool sceptor (an amazing teacher and why I went to this school, and below is me and Katie...I look like a giant in that cap and gown! Man, she has the hand on hip LA photo op down!!!).


This is me getting hooded to the right of that yellow circle deal
This was the coolest part of the ceremony! They spent so long positioning it!

Also, the guys who announced the names were like the guys you hear on movie trailors or game show announcers! They were incredible! Raaaooobin Laauuraaa Baaariiiient!!!! (Emphasis on the multiple letters and say in a deep voice...They made my day!)

American Idol Report

So someone, you know who you are, has requested a post about how American Idol was. Haha!
The most hilarious thing about this entire situation is that I banned myself from watching AI this season. And I actually stuck to it (except for the episode right before we went bc I had the email about getting to go, so I thought I should familiarize myself with the contestants.

So Katie and I went last year and never got in bc they were super disorganized. They promised us tickets to the 2009 finale. About a week before the finale, sure enough I had an email with a voucher for 2 tickets.
We showed up at 2:30 pm and there was no crazy line like last year wrapping 4 city blocks. There were only about 40 people standing around in groups.
We asked where we were supposed to go, and a lady looked at our voucher and gave us 2 real tickets! REAL! She told us we could hang out until doors opened at 3:30. We went to starbucks where we saw Melinda Doolittle from last season and then went in to the Nokia theatre. We looked at the tickets more closely and noticed it said ORCH row B....I know what that means! Second row!!!! Well, we walked up to the front freaking out and it turns out row B was row A!!! We were over to the left side of the theatre, but still!!!

It was funny to see the judges come out with one body guard per judge. Paula's body guard was holding on to her bc she was sooooo tiny and every time she shook someone's hand, she almost got pulled into the crowd. Haha! She was super sweet and was saying hi to everyone in the audience. Simon was also surprisingly nice to people too and him and Paula were chatting it up during commercial breaks. That new lady was super annoying though. I hope they cut her from the show!
Both Kris and Adam were amazing live. Adam didn't sound as high pitched and screechy as he does on TV and Kris didn't sound flat in person like he does on TV. So, basically I would recommend everyone going to see it in person! ;) It was a crazy production! Oh and I didn't mention Ryan Seacrest was a jerk. He didn't even make eye contact with anyone in the audience, and was completely stone faced.

We pretty much had a blast though!

Well, I hope that was everything and more of what you were looking for! :)

Anniversary

Yesterday was Jared and my 2 year anniversary!

We celebrated by going to Thai Dishes...a restaurant I had been wanting to try out! Their pad thai was delicious! Jared also got me some beautiful flowers and surprised me by setting up a piccolo savings account! I have been talking about getting one for a while, but just didn't know how feasible it was going to be. It will still take time, but at least I have a place to start! :)

I can't believe it has been 2 years already. 2 years of living in California and being married to the most wonderful man in the world! I know everyone says that, but I mean it! I feel incredibly blessed to have someone who loves me unconditionally, spends time with me, gives me compliments all the time, recognizes what I do for him, and did I mention he loves me?? :) Sorry if this is super cheezy....but I had to let everyone know!

P.S. The power was out for 12 hours yesterday, so everything had to be done by candlelight! If you know what I mean! Hehe! :)

Happy Memorial Day!

Hey everyone!
Happy Memorial Day!
We got back to LA last night and Jared is at work today. I am cleaning and unpacking and hopefully starting to work on my thesis formatting! I am done writing and editing content, I just have to format, which is going to be a long process...

I had a great weekend with my family! It was the first time in 15 or so years that all the cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents have been all together on my mom's side! It was great catching up with people and celebrating my grandpa's 90th birthday!

These are my grandparents...Grandpop and Grandmummy in front of Grandpop's birthday cake! He blew out all 9 of his decade candles in one poof without moving his head! Hehe! Aren't they adorable!


This is Grandpop making his speech at his birthday dinner. Brought me to tears...and a lot of other people. He commands so much respect!

Me, Grandpop and Grandmummy! :) They are the best! And he definitely does not look 90! They both still have great hair!

Brother Andrew and his girlfriend Beth

Hope you enjoyed the pictures! Have a wonderful day off if you get one! :)

American idol

Hey-o!

Katie and I are going to American Idol tonight! Look for us!
We better get in this year! We apparently have 2 real tickets, however, last year we got turned away because they ran out of room, so we will see!

:)

no more class for now

I am officially done with class for my master's. I was not sad, not happy, just in between.
I still have my thesis to finish editing after I get it back from my readers, and I will be finished with that officially in June, and I am graduating May 29th.

I am looking forward to working on music that I want to play, entering competitions, and taking auditions. I get to play whatever I want everyday instead of working on music for a class or a concert at school.

I am a little sad that I won't have an orchestra to play with until I get a job or am able to sub or play with a community orchestra.

I am super excited to get chamber music stuff going this summer, though!

I am taking one day at a time and asking God what I should be doing each day! This will be a new thing to schedule every day from an almost clean slate....so I will let you know how it goes!

Tuesday

Hello all,

It is Tuesday on my last full week of class at Cal State Long Beach! I can't believe I am almost done with my master's degree! I am graduating on May 29th, and my thesis will be completed sometime in June, hopefully!
I am working on my second draft right now and am hoping to get it done today! My new philosophy is to take life one day at a time, and not to get overwhelmed by what the future will hold, or more importantly what I want it to hold. This is all stemming from the book, Crazy Love by Francis Chan. If you want to borrow it, let me know!

On another note, summer is already filling up with exciting things! We have three weekends of guests in a row in July, and ready for more!

In June I am getting ready for the Jim Walker Masterclass, which I am sooooo excited about!!!!

Peace!