i just had to do it to keep up with everyone

The fact is

2008-12-08T06:03:00.001-08:00

The fact is that blogging is harder than it looks. There is so much that goes on that can't be put on the internet for fear of losing one's job. On the other hand, if one does not blog these days, then people lose track of one in their subconscious.

I have a profound thought: why not end public theological discussion altogether? Why not save arguments about election for when one person specifically asks another person for help about it? Bible verse throwing is pretty much the worst way to occupy your time. Just stuff it. I figure that if what I think is right, then I don't have to argue it, it's just that good. Arminians will change their minds if it is God's will, so I don't have to worry about it. Ha.

Today I am at the mall for a few hours, then teaching till 8.

2008-10-31T09:44:00.001-07:00

Because it was dead!

2008-10-28T18:58:00.001-07:00

Well I am sitting here doing lesson plans. It's all getting easier. The problem is AIM, just like it has always been. AIM is so much more interesting. Here is a joke: Why did they bury the battery?

2008-10-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

Well, I was reading Brittany's blog and saw that she tagged me to make a list of seven things. My seven things will be things I wish to do:

1. Not be sitting in Bagel and Beanery or whatever it's called for the third time in a week frantically doing random work.

2. Not wake up with a huge Stinkbug in my bed who won't go away and have to sleep on the couch all night instead, and then find him still there in the morning.

3. Remember important things.

4. Buy a Coach purse, or have a collection of Coach things.

5. Have my car cleaned when a Mom comes and talks to me about how her kids are doing in my class, while examining the filthy and numerable contents of the car with suspicion and contempt.

6. Remember Greek. Especially when I start to lecture a student on the root word (s) of the word "synonym".

7. Be able to be completely perfect all the time.

2008-10-08T20:16:00.001-07:00

So, I am doing lesson plans

2008-10-07T18:14:00.000-07:00

I am doing lesson plans, except not. Good story from another class:

After class ended last week, I found this note:

To: you
Frum: me

I am bord soooooooooooooooooooo motch!

and the reply was:

To: you
Frum: me

I no. I am bord so motch tooooooooooo!!!!

I knew who had written it based on the atrocious handwriting. So, I have corrected the spelling mistakes, and will return it back to them later, haha! oh the irony.

2008-10-07T18:08:00.001-07:00

Best sentence from a writing class:

2008-10-02T08:48:00.001-07:00

3. Describe your least favorite thing to do, using the words "very", "most" and "hardest".

"My least favorite thing to do is to play with dumb barbies because they are very ugly and most annoying things. I try my hardest not to shoot them with my B-B gun. "

The Fulbright Grant Application Saga

2008-10-01T20:14:00.000-07:00

Last minute, I decided to apply for a Fulbright Grant to study Arts management. Over the last year, I have been thinking about getting a degree that would be good for creating my own arts school, which I could run as an inner-city ministry. So I made an appointment with a professor, and he told me I should talk to another professor, who told me to apply for the Fulbright. I had to hurry though, because the GVSU deadline for the application was the following Monday (this was a Wednesday).

So, I start looking into programs that I could do with the Fulbright. The Fulbright, a one year all-in-one package deal, is only offered to people studying abroad, being established to promote good relations between the U.S. and the rest of the world. Having already experienced the horrors of language barrier and trying to apply to un-English institutions, I decided to apply to two schools in London, because at least I could read their websites. This became the First Obstacle; out of the 1500 Fulbright grants given annually, only 10 are given to programs in the U.K. I guess we already have good relations with them?

But, undaunted, I began the application process. This involves: three letters of recommendation, a transcript, a personal statement, and statement of grant purpose. You also have to submit the application online and in hard copy to a "Dr. J" on Grand Valley's campus. I got to work right away on finding recommenders and ordering the transcript. The statements, however, were more than I had counted on. For one thing, they have to be good, since the entire application award is based primarily off of them. Several drafts are recommended, and I only had the weekend to write them and get them proofed. By Friday, I had worked up a personal statement, summing up how the way I am is making me apply for this thing. I got the draft back Saturday night. I had yet to write the grant purpose; not that I hadn't tried so far. This was the Second Obstacle. For some reason, everything I would begin to write and email to myself to finish at another computer, would not download properly. Most of the time, I coudn't even view it as HTML and copy and paste. Either that, or I didn't have internet anyways to access my email. So, I began the grant statement about three times before having enough time to finish it in one sitting, which I did Sunday night.

The Third Obstacle. The recommenders became aware that they were not able to write a recommendation for me until they had seen my statement of grant purpose. But I didn't have that until Sunday night, when I emailed the unedited, undrafted statement to them to read by Monday night. Then there was Obstacle Four. I was not able to fully complete the Fulbright application until I had applied to the Universities that I was wishing to be granted the scholarship for, because the Fulbright people want to have a Letter of Affiliation from them personally. So that screwed being able to apply by Monday. "Dr. J" gave me an extension until Friday to turn in the hardcopy, bless him. Monday night found me at a GVSU computer lab frantically trying to write a better draft of my statement (receiving some comments from my recommenders) in order to apply the Universities in question and to submit the online Fulbright application.

Monday night, I was sitting next to my old friend Eric, who happens to be a great proofreader. He was doing a take home theory exam, and there I was tearing my hair out over my unproofed statements. Eric worked with me through the grant statement (my personal statement was inaccessible because it wouldn't download to GVSU computers) until about 1:30 a.m. I thought that at the very least I could get the grant statement uploaded to the Fulbright online app. But, it was not to be. I decided to email this copy, which was more clear about what the heck I wanted to do, to my recommenders. About this time, I decided to catch the bus back home to go to bed. And this was Sub-Obstacle 1. The busses from Grand Valley actually stop running at 12, so I was stranded there....I spent that night on the floor of my friend Krystal's dorm room.

Tuesday, I tried to get the Letters of Affiliation, but again, until I had applied, the universities would not send me so much as a Word of Affiliation. And, of course, I could not apply to the universities until I had my statements, which simply were not in prime condition, to say the least. Sub-Obstacle 2 is the fact that one university does not have an online application, so in order to apply, I would need to send in a hard copy overseas. Feasible by that Friday? I think not.

Grand Obstacle Five. On Thursday night, I was back at the lab. After doing lesson plans for 4 classes, I had planned to quickly edit my final copies of my statements, and just at least submit the online application for the Fulbright, print it off, and give it to Krystal to turn in to "Dr. J" the next day. But this was not to happen, due to events so bizarre and unimaginably frustrating, that they deserve their own two paragraphs:

When I began to work on my grant statement (I had printed the one with instructors comments off Mom's computer, and taken it with me, to use with the HTML copy and paste version that I downloaded from an email attachment), the lab attendent (who I later found was named Mike) came in at 12 and shut down the lab. Krystal and I followed him to the only other lab open till 1, the Calder lab. So, I had one hour to get everything done. I finished my grant statement, and Uploaded it to the application. "One down! one more to go!!" I feverishly thought. I only had to upload the other one, print it off, and give it to Krystal. So I thought.

It had actually taken me an hour to get just that done, and so, I had to leave. There was another Sub-obstacle 3, which involved the lab attendent Mike having to drive me across campus in search of my purse, which was actually in my car. Determined to print the app that night, I went to Krystal's, and began to furiously type at my personal statement. I finished it, and was about to gleefully upload, when I noticed that the grant statement had not uploaded like I had thought. What happened? I have no idea. Sub-obstacle 4 turned out to be that I had only saved the dang thing to my GVSU student account, and now I was working from my Dell, making the statement inaccessible once again. Even more determined, I opened my personal statement to upload. I quickly devised a plan to leave in-between the classes I was teaching the next day, do the printing and uploading, and turn it in myself. The final obstacle of the night was that the document would not upload, because it was a Word Perfect Document. I had to put it on a flashdrive, load it onto Krystal's computer, save it as a Word, then put it back on my computer, and then upload it. It was 3 am and I had accomplished almost nothing. "The Insanity!"

Friday, I had two hours to haul my rear from Wyoming to Allendale, deliver the app, and get back in time to teach. Obstacle 6: I had no idea where the building was that I had to deliver it to. I had never been to Niemeyer. But I knew my friend Ryan had. So on my way to the bus stop (I had to take the bus, since gas prices are the way they are) I called Ryan, who didnt know either. I figured I had to just download a map of some kind. I arrived at Grand Valley in good time, and printed the application, stuffed it into an envelope, and starting trotting across campus as fast as possible in my high heels, intent on delivering this piece of the pit. I got there, handed in the application and went back to the busstop, to get back to my car, to return to school, to teach Latin.

But this, my friends, is not the end. No, it is not. On Monday, I received an email from the "Dr. J" saying that I had forgotten to sign the application, provide two more letters of recommendation, and my transcript. What the heck?? So, there was nothing for me to do but to go to Grand Valley the next day and marshall the letters that I thought had been told to arrive on Friday, pick up the transript I had ordered over a week ago, and sign the app. So, I did.

This all brings up to this moment. I have still been trying to get the Letters of Affiliation. I applied to the one university that I actually could I apply to on Tuesday, emailed them that I had, and have been waiting for a reply about my Letter. Tonight I got one saying:

Hello

On checking the data base we do not appear to have received your application. If you applied online can you email your application number.

Best Wishes

Best Wishes?? They HAVE my danged application! Still determined, still undaunted, still pressing on to the end, I went online to go find my application number. I will need the Letter by Friday; if I can get them to find the application by tomorrow, then perhaps this is possible. Tonight is my only chance to email them before 11:00 tomorrow, at which time, their offices will be soon closing. But, but, and but - the link to their online application is down. Yes, it's down, and since their confirmation email does not include my number, like a good American application would, the whole thing is totally, completely screwed. At the very end, it is some rube in charge of a website stopping me from finishing this application.

The interviews by the Fulbright committee are on Monday. And though I am scheduled for one, I also am scheduled to work, with zero chance of getting it off so far.

What would you do?

My thoughts on hair, which are that important.

2008-09-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

Some people's hair needs some work. Like it could grow more, or grow less. Some people's hair can fit in a box. Like you know, the saying: "does she have the intelligence of a box of hair?". I find hair all over the place. It's on the floor, it's on the carpet. All over the place. You wouldn't believe how people shed. Man, blogging is so great. Everyone needs to know my thoughts on hair.

2007-12-31T16:41:00.000-08:00

2007-12-02T21:39:00.000-08:00

well, it's that time of the week where i am writing another AWESOME paper. this one is for the famous Anderson class. (Famous only through Ms. Hunter's blog.) I have just decided on a thesis, and now just have to spend five pages proving it. I have been on the couch with my laptop moaning and whining about to my roommates for about 4 hours now. They think I'm crazy. I have also deactivated my facebook account for the 2nd time in 2 days. I got rid of it on Friday, and then got back on tonight, only to be assailed with insulting comments about it, and so I have deactivated it again.

Well, that's that. Time to go yell at the cat.

2007-11-05T05:43:00.000-08:00

2007-11-03T20:53:00.000-07:00

Dear all,

I am now posting again, simply because I am writing a paper. Writing a paper and cruising the internet go hand in hand.

Congratulations to me and Aaron, who have successfully taken the GRE. Aaron did better than me, but we're not bitter. Not at all. And we're not going to take it again just to get a better score than the Rozeboom. Nope.....nope.

Well, if anyone wants to bring me food in this dungeon, let me know. I currently own two cans of tuna and a jar of peanut butter. And some cheese.

Now back to slaving away for the individualistic good. Perhaps I will post again. Later.

2007-06-24T08:32:00.001-07:00

Hi Lynette!!!!!

The Sticks are boring.

2007-06-20T20:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I flew down to TN looking for adventure and excitement (not really, my teacher just made me go). TN is not the place to find it, let me tell you. There are some redeeming qualities though, including finding a labyrinth in the woods and looking through telescopes at the observatory. I want to become Episcopalian too. The center of campus is a huge and gorgeous Episcopalian chapel*. It brings tears to my eyes it's so beautiful (notice the correct usage of "it's"). It fills me with reverence and love for God. Icons do kind of grow on you. It also makes my classics major worthwhile, because I can read all the Latin that is everywhere. Thankyou Prose Comp. "Ecce quam bonum" (A favorite slogan for the dead around here).

What I have also realized is that since I did not go to Yale there must be something wrong with me. At least, that's what the Yale clique seems to think.

Anyways, I have to play tomorrow. Today while practicing, I was having a hard time adjusting to the carillon here, and so butchered the piece directly in front of the composer. He met me outside the tower and I will never live down the mortification.

*I know that when Dad brought me to the E. church last year, I flipped out, but that was a year ago. I can really see that the E. 's have something now.

2007-06-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

This is a new post.

The summer is flying by. I just made a call to the literacy council to set up an interview. I wonder if I will have time next semester to tutor. Probably not. There goes the Rhodes Scholarship for me. I am actually thinking of applying to Central Mich for grad school. Who knows if I wil get into the huge schools I am applying to.

It is looking like I will be driving to Tennessee all by myself in two weeks for the Carillon congress. If I can get a car with Air Conditioning it will be fine, if I can't, then I probably won't go at all. Aaron gave me the idea of hitting up Grand Valley for some money for a plane ticket, so I think I will be seeing Mrs. V. about that.

My carillon concert is June 17 at 8:00. Everyone is welcome to come. I will be playing music you will all recognize. There is a piece especially for Justin and especially for my Dad, since it's Father's day. Justin, you can come and see which one you think it is. It is one that you know.

My working out at the fieldhouse is going very well. I am getting some shape to my triceps already. When I walk out of the gym I am depression-free and really relaxed, so it is a great thing to do. And there are any number of attractive guys there, at a 3-1 guys to girls ratio. It is just an observation.

That is all.

2007-05-24T09:40:00.000-07:00

So I noticed a lackage of posts lately, and I thought I would put up one just to spur on interesting posting. ummmm....So, isn't it great that we're RP now?????????

here are some pictures from the other day.

Trying to get a good picture of these two.....

Hey David!!
Uncle Dougly
Hmmm Hudsonville....better than Aldi's at least
Nice
B-Ron

Petely
Candid Sepia
Nice again
Ahh, the happy couple

Happy Anniversary

2007-05-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

well, it's been 6 weeks, four hours and one minute now. yay for me.
:(

2007-05-11T12:07:00.000-07:00

The tennis lesson went okay. I am better than I was last year. I just need to practice.

I'm about to go for an interview for an internship at the GRSO. I don't think it's a paid internship, neither do I think I will get hired. I just got a rejection letter from the writing consultant place at GVSU. Well, they will think twice about it when some music major comes in there writing about augmented fifths and the clueless Social work major consultant has no idea what he is talking about.

Time to go.

Life in the ministry strikes again

2007-05-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take a moment to reflect. My favorite part of the day now is when I come home from the office and change from my almost professional office wear into my typical college slob clothing. Then I run out of the house (if supper has not been made) and drive off to practice in order to escape James' super-annoying drum playing.

Tennis lessons start on Thursday. I have made my instructor ( who none of you know, and I am not going to tell) very aware of my lack of tennis playing ability.

I am now going to return Aaron's call that he gave in return to my call, which was in return to his call, which was in return to my call. all this calling has been within the space of two days, and it is about my car, which is in a very bad way.

LATER

After I returned Aaron's call and left another message, I went on a half hour run. I came home dripping with sweat and as red as a lobster, only to find that dinner was about to be served for two RP ministers who were here tonight. Nobody told me! (or actually, Mom did say something about "surprize guests" before I left, but I thought she was talking about something in the distant future) I was sent upstairs to change. The one minister says to me "so Loretta, did you get some sun today?" and my father says "she's used to practicing all day, so a little exertion is very stressful for her". Nice. Then Aaron called my phone back, and my Mom answered it for some reason, "hello this is Loretta's cell phone, this is her mother". Aaron, however, had already started to leave a message, which I just got. I just love these relative clauses.

Now it's carillon practice time.

Aaron has a point

2007-04-30T14:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Sunday, I was in a very bad mood. Oh well, those things happen. We were all having dinner with Aunt Marion, and the conversation, regarding the perceived good qualities about a certain person, became very heated. I was losing the argument, so naturally I argued even louder and more violently, with the result that Aunt Marion upset her coffee cup into her lap. This has never happened in the history of dining at Aunt Marion's.

Before that happened, I was once again commenting on Brittany's lackage of posting, and Aaron said that he had almost given up on mine. How did this happen again? I don't know. I just don't see my blog as being that important.

Greater news is that Evie and I bought a digital camera. Now you can see that I cook. In fact, I am a good cook. Don't argue; I am not in the mood.

my 9 year old mind

2007-04-01T13:38:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Brittany, I took a look at my earliest diary. Somewhere between 9 and 15 I stopped writing in diaries, and so I don't have a glimpse of when I was 12 as Brittany does, but when I was 9 I kept a steady journal for about a week and a half. What I found was funny, disturbing, and not unfamiliar: (this is completely unabridged, spelling, puncutation and all, although some parts have been taken out because they are actually really boring)

April 16, 1994

Today we had a special breafast of eggs, bacon, grapefruit, and toast. after breakfast, I let Duchess and Gingerbread out and then I went Rollerblading and then let the dogs in. Then I went Roller blading again. Mommy had gotten this crazy idea about homeschooling and wanted to get us all journals and other stuff for homeshooling. Marion, James, Evie, and I, went with Mommy to get the stuff...So we were going to Kmart to get some lunch, but as Mommy opened the door of the van, she put a big dent in the car beside us. Mommy did not want to get a ticket. so she quickly drove away and as she was just going out out of the parking lot that same car went out to...

April 17, 1994

Today I went to church and it was the last day of sundayschool! Boy was I glad. When I did have sunday school I had to wait for Mommy to come to pick me up. Anyway, I'm glad that there is not any sundayschool. After church I went home and tried to find Neco (that dumb stupid cat)...Then it was time to eat and after dinner my dress was spattered in gravy!...I changed and went outside with James to play baseball. I was just getting into "homerun shots" when Ben Sikema came along and messed them all up! I decided to play with Lynette, his sister and she decided to spy on Aunt Connie and Mom...

April 19, 1994

Today I went to prison again. The day started out as usual. we first had devotions then bible reading then prayer. Then we had laguage which was boring, then math which was very easy, then a math paper, then spelling which was so easy I got it done in five minutes...[after recess] I went back into prison to go to the library. I had forgotten my library books so i had to read short little books and didn't get to check them out when we got back to the classroom (actuly the prison cell) we had to lack up and go home. Mommy picked us up from school to save us from the loud, hot, noisy, nonchristain bus.

April 21, 1994

Today it just so happened that I had to go to school. What a sad moment it was to trudge from the car to go to school. When the bell rang I ran toward the prison just to work my But off...the bell rang and I actuly got to go outside and do nothing. I was very bored so I wanted the bell to ring very soon. When the bell did ring, I didn't want to ring.

As you can see, I was just a little kid trying to figure out life. And I hated school.

Foot in mouth

2007-03-03T16:43:00.000-08:00

The other night at Bible Study I commanded Ms. Hunter to post on her blog. This reasonable sentiment, word of its existence spreading quickly across both the real and the cyber realms, has been met with a surprizing amount of ironic judgement and sarcasm, spawning such phrases as "that's fine for Loretta to say when she hasn't posted in two months" and I have been stung into redeeming my polite request of Ms. Hunter, which was actually very appreciated by most, by making this very post.

The above demonstrates my lately learned and indepth knowledge of how to use subordinate clauses. Of course, one only writes this way in Latin, but isn't cool how that entire paragraph is only two sentences? Cicero would be proud. To take this further, the order of clauses I used goes: main, adjectival, main, adjectival, main, relative, adverbial. Nice. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

I have been having a usually busy semester. This whole past week was unusually difficult. I was weepy and tired and unable to get out of bed and on Friday I actually skipped Latin because I just couldn't do it anymore. I did not practice yesterday either. Well, wouldn't you know it, I came down with pneumonia today, which explains it all. I have been lying in bed all day, whining for Evie to do things for me. Daddy made me soup which was really good.

I am preparing a recital for Saturday, April 14, 2007 at 1:00 in the afternoon. So far, all my pieces are a disaster. I was supposed to have a lesson today (yes, on Saturday) but naturally I had to cancel. I don't know what is to become of me.

Well, back to online shopping, the latest craze among the Lorettas of 2007.

2007-01-08T10:52:00.000-08:00

Today is my first day of class. So far, it has been great. I was here at 8:15 to practice.

Well, I am back on facebook again. It is too necessary to my life. You facebook naysayers will be glad for facebook when I am in Rome. You will be able to know everything about my life.

Time for class (again)

2007-01-03T07:37:00.000-08:00

This morning has been spent well. I cleaned my room so that people won't mistake me for white trash (now that I have dyed my hair bleach blonde it will be hard to tell), paid some bills, ordered my music, and am about to leave to go drop off my resumes I finished last night at the music stores. It is barely 10:30. I will go into work at 1, and then after prayer meeting will attempt to practice.

My life without facebook is hard at times, but I think I am almost through detox (is that how you spell it?) and will soon be clean.

I am still needing to know what grade magna cum laude is.

That is all.

2006-12-31T12:24:00.000-08:00

I just deactivated my facebook account. I feel so..........free.

I am having a great break. So far I have been out past midnight every night. Tonight will certainly not be an exception.

And can anyone tell me what the cutoff grade is in order to graduate magna cum laude?

2006-12-21T07:18:00.000-08:00

We're in Canada for the weekend. Back before Sunday. Maybe.

My mom bought me a new red coat.

2006-12-19T19:16:00.000-08:00

I just looked at my grades.

I am now offically taking the flight attendent job, after I burn every paper I wrote this semester.

2006-12-15T08:58:00.000-08:00

Why do you all want me to buy a husband off Ebay? Considering my Rest Haven/RVO/piano teacher salary, you know I will only be able to afford a very small one of poor quality. Tell me I should be a flight attendant.

2006-12-14T21:44:00.000-08:00

Alright, we're done now. It's all over. I am seriously looking for a full-time job so that I won't have to go back. I should call rest haven and ask if I could become their weekend phone-answerer: "ANDREA SNOW LINE 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and then it would be me on the phone, asking her to bring me a sample of the dinner she was making....see, I can picture it all already.

Ah, Fall semster 06.
Getting dropped while doing the tango: Cute

Rearending somebody on my way to playing a carillon concert I was already 30 minutes late for: Stunning.

Writing a presentation on Machiavelli's use of Livy, a book review on a book I didn't read, a 10 page end of the term paper, and playing in a band and then a choir concert all in the space of five days: Priceless.

There's also my most memorable Monday and Wednesday nights of falling asleep doing Livy homework only to wake up at 3 am and just go to bed, and then getting up at six to read feminist propaganda for my history class, or the time I ran out of gas and Dad had to come at 10:00 pm and help me. He let me buy a donut at Speedway. Of course, I should not fail to mention my Saturdays of working from 6:30 to 3:00, then playing at the mission from 6-7, then going to Bible Study until 9:30, and then from there going to the PAC and practicing until 11 or 12. GREAT TIMES!!!!!!!!

Oh here's a funny story actually: there was this one Saturday that I was trying to go to the football game with Sarah T, and after I got there, I realized that I didn't have my ID to get in, so I "borrowed" some stranger's to get in instead. Actually the funny part of that story was how I wound up not having my ID, (too complicated for blogging) and then how Sarah's phone was stolen by somebody who told me I had the wrong number when I tried to call.

I'm really trying to think of anything positive here..................oh, the one time that I already blogged about when Aaron bought me pizza after my terrible day of being yelled at by the band director.

Hold the phone: I AM FORGETTING LOS ANGELES.

L A. was really really great. We were at this amazing hotel, and there were chauffeurs and wonderful days of sunshine, jacuzzis, and sleeping in. A neat little stint that the university paid for. Mostly.

In conclusion, I found out yesterday that my application for study abroad in Rome was accepted. I am now accepting donations for the worthy "Let's keep Loretta from resorting to selling herself on the streets of Rome in order to survive" fund.

uh, have a great Christmas!

2006-12-13T15:38:00.000-08:00

ONE MORE TO GO

I handed in my history paper, took my Latin exam, and played my jury today. Tomorrow I have my last exam, which is for the hated political science class.

I sold 8 of my history books and I got a grand total of 19 bucks for them. The $59 "Women writers of the Renaissance and Reformation" book brought in $2. The $45 "The Holy Family: Women in the Reformation" brought in $3. I bet if I tried to sell them myself they would give like a $1, or less since they won't be using me in a class next semester. I would have been encouraged to donate myself to the worthy cause that had set up a table outside to collect whatever nobody could sell. After I played my piano jury, I went to McDonalds and ordered half the dollar menu with my 19 bucks.

On a side note, there is nothing like a good-looking tenor in a suit. I accompanied one on Monday. I was quite impressed. He has decided to leave the department, however. He said the music major lifestyle was too intense: "It's like it's midterms here every week!" Alas, the first good-looking tenor in a suit I have ever met is already no more.

2006-12-09T15:41:00.000-08:00

this week was my last week of classes.

now for exams.

i feel...i don't feel.

2006-11-14T20:27:00.000-08:00

well, I was at school for 12 hours today and did not get any practice in. I filled the hours I usually practice with getting screamed at by the devil incarnate himself. It is not Avi. We shall call him "Prof. X" (having nothing to do with X-men). Apparently I am late on my eighth note rests. The man can scream louder than the entire percussion section playing at FF. And it was at me. And does anyone know how terrifying it is to be stuck right in front of the entire percussion section? It still does not match the horrors of a demon possesed man yelling at you while tapping quarter note beats in your face. I need therapy.

Aa bought me pizza this afternoon after that horrible experience. Bless him.

I put up my posters today, you can find them if you look hard enough.

2006-11-08T18:56:00.000-08:00

My life is kicking my butt. To make that less secular, I should say that the Lord is kicking my butt. I will not go into the details.

Announcement: the date of the Beethoven Folksong Recital starring me and nine other depressed music majors has been rescheduled to Nov 29, 2006 at 8:00, in the Sherman VanSolkema Recital Hall at GVSU. Any readers are forthwith invited to attend. Another concert of note is a Mozart performance by A. Reichert with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra on Friday Nov. 17 at 8:00. There will also be a performance of Copland's Applacian Spring.

2006-10-26T20:48:00.000-07:00

I was just watching the tigers game tonight, and they are losing, 4-3. We got Mom to watch the game in peace, by pinning her under Evie on the couch. Her favorite parts of the game were when the players spit or swore, so she could make another dramatic speech about how evil sports are.

Tonight the three of us (Mom, Ev and I) went over to Aaron's with champagne to wish him a happy birthday. That champagne is quite the stuff... Happy Birthday Aaron!

2006-10-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

I thought I should mention that yesterday's Monday was pretty much a great day. Have you all realized that homosexual marriage is entirely constitutional?

2006-10-17T14:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a very strange day. I got up at 3:30 am to do homework, and then went straight to work. When I came home I lost my keys, so I had to go to school without having the key to the carillon practice room. This becomes important later on in the day. At 3:00 p I had studio, in which I played, and since I did not play very well, I had a breakdown and just went home. I was supposed to come back to campus by 7:20 to play the carillon prelude before going to the Van Cliburn contest. I woke up in my bed at 7:10 and so I was 20 minutes late for my recital. On the way there I rear-ended a girl. I drove up to the tower, only to realize that I did not have the key to get in. Karen had one however, and she let me in so I could play for the last five minutes. The rest of the night was uneventful. I did homework until 1 am, so I was awake for almost 24 hours, if you don't count the hour that I was asleep when I should have been at the tower.

2006-10-16T04:17:00.000-07:00

It is 7:10 in the morning and I am trying to make it downstairs to eat breakfast before going to work. Since I have to be at work in less than 20 minutes now, I should get down there pretty soon. I just can't find the socks I want to wear today, so that is the problem here.

I have heard that Evie, A and B are going down south this weekend. I could have gone too, mind you.

well, I should go now. Since I haven't looked for my socks, I haven't found them yet. Did I mention how not even Dad is awake right now? I alone am carrying the torch for getting out of bed before sunrise.

2006-10-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

well, it's Friday, and I am sitting here in the lab with Monica. She is doing her marching band tech homework, and I am wasting time. Monica is wearing her red coat today. I have to teach carillon in 15 minutes. My choir concert is next Friday. The tenors are unbelievably bad this year. They smell funny too. I have to stand in the middle of about five of them, so I know. Tonight I am going to the Tokyo String Quartet concert with the piano studio.

2006-10-11T18:26:00.000-07:00

Blah blah blah music blah blah blah Avi blah blah blah school blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah music blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah chopin blah blah blah blah blah subway blah blah blah blah And that was my day.

2006-10-08T20:10:00.000-07:00

I think this picture is funny.

Weekend

Steve Birn's face

It's biblical for the whole family to sleep in one bed?

I play in studio class tomorrow

6:30 am

(This is what's on my mind right now) (the stuff that is safe to blog about)

2006-10-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

I am about to go into another lesson with A. Again, this should be interesting....

It is his birthday today. I am going to give him a card that I signed as "Loretta (your student)" in case he ever forgets who I was, providing he saves this card and does not throw it away.

The Symphony is playing with Peter Serkin this weekend. I want to go.

2006-10-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

Well thanks to all those out there who did not tell me Bible Study was cancelled. It was a nice drive anyways!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh well, Devin and I had some quality time. His sisters had some friends over. They seemed to be watching Phantom of the Opera. That reminds me of the time that

haha, someone is stuck in the bathroom again. I think it's James and I will just let him get himself out. It's so funny when that happens. Here comes Opa "you have (haff) to watch yourself with that doorknob! you can get trapped in there!" Dad: " Oh it's fine! I don't believe it!" I assume that Opa rolled his eyes.

Anyways, Devin's sisters reminded me of when I went with Lynette and her friend to see Phantom when it was new and all the rage. She was mad because I was too critical, and because I didn't think the Phantom was attractive. We never agree on what men are attractive. We met the Bjorlie boys there with Randall Kraai. Andrea remembers Randall Kraai.

2006-09-29T06:40:00.000-07:00

This is a new post.

This weekend Oma and company will be in town. Tonight I am going to start rehearsing a Beethoven trio, the first I have ever done, with the two best string players in the department. Why they chose me to play with them is beyond me. It's because they're new.

Evie is back home for the weekend. It is very nice to see her again.

Today I am buying my plane ticket for LOS ANGELES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-09-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

Last night I studied with Brittany and Aaron. There were some memorable moments. The donuts were great. Terry went to Adobe at 11:30 and brought chicken enchilldas. I had Aaron's highfalutin coffee, and it was bad for my concentration. Brittany agreed to play with me at Martha and Terry's wedding: Martha, if you're reading this, there's some developments in the music for your wedding I want to talk about with you. All this and I even got some Latin done.

This morning my history class was cancelled, so I was able to clean my room and do my laundry and finish my homework instead. Latin class is at 11:30.

I am beginning to resent the achievements of the feminists. Forty years ago, I could just have looked forward to a future of staying at home embroidering.

2006-09-21T21:57:00.000-07:00

Five minutes ago, I submitted my final paper to the S-cubed people. WHAT A RELIEF.

It's over, it's over.

2006-09-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

I am about to go to another lesson with Av. This should be interesting.

2006-09-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

Today I went to the best wedding I have ever gone to. The bride and groom were married in a private immeidate-family only service and then had a very classy openhouse type reception for everyone else. I really liked it. No dopey unity candles, ten bridesmaids and strange message from strange minister. All I had to was drop off my gift, say hello and eat the great food they had there. This is definitely the way weddings should be, with the exception of not having one at all. I still have not been convinced that that is a bad idea.

My paper is almost done. But not yet.

We must all remember poor Maggie and terrible accident that befell her on Thursday. It was very very awful. Not that the Keystone cops over here were very helpful to her when she was most in need. If there was a purgatory, we would spend an extra 500 years in it for the atrocity.

2006-09-12T19:32:00.000-07:00

Tonight was Mr. Reichert's recital. IF YOU DIDN'T GO, THEN YOU MISSED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! not that anyone knew about it (besides A and B), but still. I even skipped class for it.

I thought I was going to be taking it easy this semester, but that is not the case. I didn't think that two history classes would provide this many hours of delightful reading, or that my Beethoven project would drag on so long, or that yes, I still need to practice a decent amount of piano if I want to make something of myself. I also have to put more hours in at work than I did all summer. Now, it's 10:45 at night, and I am just now starting on Everything, and I didn't even practice today. The way to handle all this is to just not care, but still manage to keep some kind of work ethic and momentum. I also suggest (if you're a woman) to wear high heels all day because they make you feel empowered. Onward and upward! (Don't worry about your knees, you can get replacements later on!)

I have definitely decided not to change my last name when I get married. It is an unnecessary social convention. My feminist history prof didn't. She is my new role model.

2006-09-10T19:00:00.000-07:00

I'm uh doing this instead of homework. It feels really good. Yippee.

I'm suddenly famous for having gotten this haircut. Don't let me be the only one! It's a new season, so that means new everything. Just don't use Pantene Pro-V, my stylist says that is coats your hair with wax and not only wieghs it down, but dulls the color and make it frizzy and unmanageable. And don't let your husband tell you what shampoo to use. What does he know? His hair is probably hardly there and is 90 times shorter than yours, not to mention he is oblivious anyways since he's a man.

Well, back to Livy. And Alberti and Freeman. Maybe Beethoven too. Oh Boring, Most Boring! (Look, that was a cunning reference to Shakespeare!) (for Andrea)

2006-09-07T19:34:00.000-07:00

This week has been busy. I got my hair cut on Tuesday, as well as returned the pants. I had lunch with someone and then had dinner iwth Aunt M as I had stopped by her house to show her my new look. I also started my non-refined sugar diet. I haven't had so much as a cookie in three days.
Yesterday I came down with a very bad feverish cold. That is all.

2006-09-05T08:18:00.000-07:00

Eventful day. Spent all morning cleaning. Washed and vacummed out my car, cleaned my room, did yard work, gave James more advice on whether or not he should be a drum player. Beautiful day. At 4:00 Mom and Ev and I went to the Bonner's for tea, and then also stayed for steak, which was very good. Ad Bonner dropped Ev and I off at our home on his way back to Chicago, where we found we were locked out, but he helped us break in so that I could grab my keys and go to Bible study, after which I foolishly watched a movie with A-ron and D about Michelle Pfeiffer yelling at high schoolers. When if got home from that, I foolishly watched another movie which was about Ben Stiller being ridiculous.

Today I have plans, involving home work. I will also be returning the Un-Brown Pants.

That is all.

2006-09-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

Ah, the single life. My boss asked me a while ago if I wanted to work every Friday night in addition to all day Saturday, I figured that since I was not dating I might as well. After the shift my dear coworker An. said "Got any plans for tonight?" and naturally I said "Want to come to Meijer with me?" And so we did. Tonight is Evie's birthday celebration, starting at 11:00, when she gets out of work. If you read this before then, feel free to stop by. There is fine gourmet cake and Italian wine.

Yesterday afternoon I spent with Mar, Mare, George and Ev wedding dress shopping, or trying on that is. After returning Mar safely back to T, Mare and Just had Ev and I over for dinner, and then we watched the Curse of the WereRabbit. I picked out "phish food" Ben and Jerry's for dessert, which no one liked, except me.

You would hardly know that I am in school. No practice yesterday. !!!!!!! . Things are picking up fast though. I am in a Renaissance History class, and we learned all about the Black Death.

2006-08-30T18:22:00.000-07:00

School is fine. Fine fine fine. Fine. I am fine. How are you?

2006-08-28T04:24:00.000-07:00

School starts today. This is the end of starting each post with "today was a great day.". Oh, what horrors await me? I have been so lazy this summer, I fear I won't be able to break the habit of dropping anything that I don't want to do. I got a lot done this summer despite that anyways. I learned a sonata, the notes of an etude, even though its needs a lot of work before I can play it, some of a concerto, and some of a polonaise. I passed my carillon exam, played in the concert, and have successfully prepared for my jury. I have alomst finished the research project; I could have gotten it done this weekend, but was too caught up in 'other stuff'.

This week will be okay. As long as I get enough to eat.

2006-08-24T14:17:00.000-07:00

I just had a disappointing experience. I was in Express today, and I found this pair of pants that I liked because of their interesting brown color. "Wow", I thought, "these are an interesting brown color." So I bought them and took them home. Now I have discovered that they are not brown, but not only that, it is difficult to decide on what color they are at all. Black looks bad with them, brown looks odd, colors look worse. They aren't black, brown, or grey. Just a wierd thing in between. But they were brown at the store!!!! I just don't know what to do. Do I keep them and hope that I will get used to the color? Maybe they will return to brown once I am in flourescent light again. Should I just bring them back and exchange them for pants that are definitely brown? Or should I return them and find something way less expensive?

2006-08-24T05:06:00.000-07:00

So camping was great this year. I spent many hours completely carefree, letting anything I ever ws worried about die a slow death at the bottom of the lake. (The allusion I am trying to use there is that they um sunk and then drowned, not that I was at the bottom of the lake. ) ( i don't try to be too literarily elegant on this blog) The party on Monday was quite lovely as well, with absolutely nothing going wrong and everyone astounded at the brilliant and original idea to hire Craig the jazz pianist to play for us. I personally liked the cake too, and was glad to reacquaint myself with the Lipsys.

All my friends are back in town again! (but let us not forget that Melissa just left for Pittsburg today. She needs to stay here) A came into town on Monday, but didn't come to the party, and then furthermore did not come to visit not just me but everyone else at the campsite. He says he had "things to do". He did too, I will allow; he had to present the same workshop at Marriage Camp four or five times. The Meat Market was being held in Hastings this year at a place called Meetyouroneandonly (named after an Indian Tribe), so he had a long drive, and also was not getting paid. I guess they think that being given a free chance to hook up with a nice girl is payment enough. Move fast Aaron! You only have one day!

2006-08-16T18:15:00.000-07:00

So Steve says that I'm not mean enough to be a lawyer. Just to prove him wrong, what kind of a person would look at a little baby and tell him he's ugly? What type of person tells a senial old woman that her husband is not there because he was abducted by aliens? What type of person is nicknamed The Devil by a little nine year old? What type of person kicks dogs and throws rocks at little squirrels? ME! See, I can to be a lawyer!! Have you ever purposely tripped a coworker? Have you ever thrown mud at your own sister and then lied about it Steve Birn? NO. I bet I would make a better laywer than you, so there.

2006-08-15T19:20:00.000-07:00

Today was really really great. Greater than all days previous. I can't believe how great it was. I spent nearly the whole day at the beach with the Vantimmeren girls ( all of them). We had such a good time. After that Evie and I stopped in at the sikmas and ended up going out to eat with Ben, Pete, and John. Pete has just returned from California. Then I watched House with my family. That really was a great day.

Today:
8:30-11: Called A. not home. talked to Rachel. photocopied music, emailed Mrs. V an irate note about that security guard. Emailed arts acad to tell them I was not teaching this semester.

11-5: Dropped music off at Prof. Ryd. house, then beach.
You know the rest. For now, I am going to get my work done.

2006-08-14T21:17:00.000-07:00

Today was good. I went to the mall for two hours. I could have stayed there all day, if I had not been really hungry and did not want to spend even more money on the food there. I think I am beginning to think economically: why buy lunch at the mall, when I can drive all the way home and get it for free? Of course, this is not thinking about gas expense. I don't think I really saved any money at all. Why bother saving money? isn't the reason you have it is so you can spend it?

I am going to call the head of Gvsu's security tomorrow and personally tell the him/her that their staff is obnoxious, insulting, and have no idea of what their job really is, and that since I am doing GVSU a service by playing that tower, I have every right to go into the tower whenever I need to. Do they think I just go in there for fun? No! I have work to get done, and do not need blockhead security guards telling me that I haven't been coming here for the last four years and that I need to arrange it beforehand, even though it was arranged before hand four years ago already, and that they do not need to know when I exit the tower. Any more questions can be directed to my lawyer Steve Birn.

2006-08-11T14:07:00.000-07:00

Today was also another great day. It's the weather. It is just so divinely beautiful everywhere you look. I saw A again today, who had just returned from his Colorado stint. He has pretty much decided to take over my Beethoven project, but that is fine with me. I just don't care. He was rather concerned that it would start or had already interfered with my real practicing, but I told him I knew what I really wanted to work on. Then I got him to let me clean his house for the semester for extra cash. I met a new student who is transferring here from CC. He wanted to know if A treated all his students the same, or if he eased up on the Music Eds. I laughed and told him that A was psycho and no one can escape his wrath.

Today:
Work 8-11:30
Had lunch with trumpet players. For about 5 minutes
Bought P yogurt, for some reason
Met L 1:30
Met A
Practice 1:30-4:30
Should be going to M and D's concert with Ml. Don't know yet.

2006-08-09T19:09:00.001-07:00

Another great day today. Worked for four hours, then practiced. I actually did practice pool too. I don't think it did me any good though. I went to go practice carillon downtown, but the guard wouldn't let me in, because he didnt know who I was. He asked me for my name, my home phone number, my student id, Mrs. V's name, and I had to tell him several times how I always come here and I am allowed to use it whenever I need to. He ended up calling Mrs. V with the number I gave him to verify that yes, I should be let in to play. He was like, even though he had had me spell out her name for him, "is Julianne VanWingerdinken there?" I just cracked up knowing what she was thinking at that point. He said, to validate his fears, that she said that she was glad that he had called. He was so suspicious. I was just laughing really hard. After I was done practicing, I called him up and said I was sorry for being so mean to him.

Then I went shopping with Mare and George. We went to Target and TJ Maxx. I bought X2.
And new shoes. I was holding George for Mare at the checkout and then when I had to pay for my stuff I go "Here" to the cashier guy and almost hand George to him. He got this scared look and backed away. I just wasn't thinking.

Tomorrow:
Piano student at 10:30
Carillon lesson at 12
Bridesmaid dress shopping 1-3
Get work done
Go to Schulers. Secret affair.

Blogging? Again?

2006-08-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

So, we're blogging again. Main purpose: so that, once my family reads my dramatic schedule, they won't think I am under an obligation to clean the entire house all the time.

Short and Sweet:

Today: Slow. No work. Nervous about oral presentation later that night. Did not get dressed until 2:30. (note, as I am in Scholars program, am not working fulltime because I am Researching. The word research is up for interpretation. Regardless, I am still getting the work done) Did oral presentation. Talked too fast. Mom and Dad were there and Mom kept making strange gestures that I took to mean several horrible things at once. She was just trying to tell me to slow down. Later, took me to Holly's Landing. Amaretto sour.

Leave with Mare and Ev for Canada all weekend.

To do within next 2 weeks:

Nag A about funding
Write full program notes
Finish all piano music
Prepare entire carillon jury
Beg more hours at work
Decide on the other job

Within the next week:
Piano practice
Start reviewing folksongs
Carillon
Books
Marshall Fields account (what is their problem)
Talk to L about Study abr ref
Figure out wedding sit
Book campsite for week
Thankyou notes (M, AM)
Practice pool to whip D

Tomorrow:
Work
Pack
Leave
Clean room (before Leave)

And that's it.

What should Loretta do instead of Return to GVSU?
	Buy a husband off Ebay
	Work full time at some boring job
	Make a little corner for myself in the basement and never leave the house again
	Become a flight attendent

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