Yes, I am the dictator…I mean…director

Whew. Who knew that directing could be so hard? I simply though yeah, everything for this show would come together simply because of my awesomeness. Psh. Yeah, right. Oh my goodness there is so much to be done, but I have some amazing people working for me.

I really came on here to…complain. Yup, you heard me. I am up at 7am ON A SATURDAY to run to a warehouse and pull set, props, and costumes. I hope my cast realizes how much I love them. I just sacrified my sleep for you!!!

I’m not trying to be a diva about this…but…

It should be a sin to be up this early on a Saturday!

Burry it in my past…

I keep a box full of things – trinkets, letters, and the like – so that one day I can look at the box and remember what a beautiful life I’ve lived. Somehow, things get removed from that box and they are burned. They are burned in an attempt to cure the pain or the memories. Can destruction bring peace?

Today, I was faced with a memory that I tried to burn, I tried to burry it in the past. But today was the day I let go, forgave, and moved on. That memory now sits peacefully in box. It reminds me that life is full of mistakes and regrets, but that doesn’t mean I should let that fester in me. I need to face it, forgive unconditionally, and learn from it. The relief that I feel from accepting this fact is utterly overwhelming.

No longer will I burry my past…

…I will learn from it to make a brighter future.

You know you’re a music major if…

*You try to talk to your non-music major friends about your classes but you give up because they just don’t understand
*You had to convince your parents that your life would be ok if you majored in music instead of bussiness
*You’re pretty sure you’re probably going to be kind of broke for the rest of your life because you majored in something you actually liked
*You’ve ever had to sing to yourself in class to understand the point the teacher was trying to make
*Someone’s cell phone goes off in class and people try to name the interval, including the professor
*You took more semesters of keyboarding than you can count, and you STILL can’t play the piano
*You’re pretty sure it’s going to take you more than four years to graduate college
*Everybody in your department knows everyone else, if not by name then at least by face and instrument
*Two people in your department start dating, and it’s all anyone can talk about for the next week
*You’ve ever turned down a good time because you had to practice
*You actually know what “juries” mean, and no, it has nothing to do with the law
*Recital attendance credit will be the death of you
*You actually have some classical music and show tunes on your iPod
*You know the difference in between baroque, classical, and romantic music, and that Beethoven did not write all three
*You know the beauty of manuscript of paper, one packet can last you for years
*Your reputation has become defined by your instrument or voice part
*You understand there is a silent war between the vocalists and the instrumentalists
*You’ve wondered if God created more than one semester of music theory simply to torture you
*Your classes are randomly interrupted by the sound of someone loudly practicing down the hallway
*Someone says the words “sight-singing and ear training” and you feel a sudden urge to cry
*Even if you try to stay under the radar, most of the professors in your department actually know who you are
*You decided to skip one your classes for the day, so you had to skip them all. They were all in the music building and you would get caught by the professor who’s class you were skipping
*You have more than one class with the same professor on the same day
*You’ve ever turned a pop song into an opera or classical piece
*You get excited when key modulations occur
*You know what a key modulation is
*You’ve ever had to write a paper that was more than five pages long on a freakin piece of music
*You feel like less of a musican just because you’ll be getting a B.A. in Music instead of a B.M. in whatever
*You understood what that just meant
*You’re brave enough to eat lunch in the music building when you’re skipping a music class to eat your lunch. You don’t know where else to go.
*You’ve pretty much been in classes with all the same people since your freshman year
*You would count your private instructor as one of the people who know you best in this world
*You’ve been in music history for a few semesters now and you still haven’t bought those NAWM cds
*You know what NAWM means
*Sometimes you pretty much hate making music, but it’s such a part of you that you know you’re not changing your major
*You’ve ever gotten dressed, slept, or gotten busy in the music building
*You could consider the music building as one of your residencies
*When you tell people you’re a music major they give you a sceptic look and ask “What do you plan on doing with that . . . teaching?” If you say no, they look kind of sad for you
*You keep catching yourself randomly conducting music, even if it’s “Money Maker” or “Bye Bye Bye”
*You’ve ever laughed at a really corny joke that used a musical term
*You’ve ever MADE a really corny joke that used a musical term, then actually laughed at your own stupid joke
*Meter changes in pop music make you cheer
*You even realize a pop song just had a meter change
*The most common pick-up lines you hear are “You want to play a duet sometime?” and “Do you need an Aural Skills tutor?”
* You associate Beethoven Symphonies with certain moods during your day
* You laugh when TV ads come on that have instruments in them and you know that the person is holding it wrong.
* You know that the person on TV playing the music but rather, Joshua Bell, or YO-yo ma dubbed over the person.
*You’ve ever spent more than an hour in the music reference/musical scores section of the library
*You know where the music reference/musical scores section is
*You and your library’s local copy machine are very, very good friends
*There’s all kinds of randomly assorted furniture around your department’s building
*You own some type of clothing or accessory that clearly indicates that you are a musican: Anything with a musical note or symbol all over it, anything that says “Rock on,” a guitar tshirt, and you’re a freakin singer!

Trust…

Does life ever throw you a curve ball? Yeah? Hey me too. Right now, I’m dealing with some stuff that kinda scares me. I’m worried about what will happen with this issue and what will come of it. I really wish I knew what was going on. I wish I had the answers. I wish I knew how to handle this situation and knew exactly what would happen next. Sadly, I don’t.

The world of the unknown slightly terrifies me. I don’t comprehend everything that is happening. Lucky for me, I serve  a faithful God who knows exactly what is going on. Over and over, the Bible reminds us that God is control all of the time. He won’t give up on you. He will be with you. 

“And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”

                – Psalm 9:10

A boxing ring sleepover…

Last night I recieved the third black eye of my life. Contrary to popular belief, I did not inflict this shiner on myself. Oh no, it was definitely caused by someone else. I wish I had some epic story to tell you about how I was fighting the girl equavalent of Muhammed Ali or that I got it while defending the president from a “bad guy.” Yes, some tale like the above mentioned would be much more interesting, but alas my story is rather pathetic.

My sister Lici had one of her best friends Jessica (our childhood  “adopted” sister) over to spend a night. The three of us ladies spent the evening getting some amazing ice cream at the girls work and seeing Robin Hood (Russell Crowe did a great job in the film, though the two girls thought he did a great job looking cute. Anyway…) Upon our arrival at the house, the three of us decided to sit down and figure out sleep arrangements. Lici and I have two beds in our room. Should we bring in another matress and put it on the floor? Or have Jess share a bed with Lici? We decided that Lici would push her bed next to mine thus producing a giant bed. Sounds good? So we thought.

Fast forward 6 hours. Jess is talking in her sleep. I roll over because I’m pretty sure I just heard her say “Daniela, I need..blah blah blah.” Upon rolling over, I am greeted with her fist in my eye. Lovely. If I wasn’t wake before, I was definitely awake now. Seriously now. Since when do we feel the need to box in bed, huh Jess? Do I look like a punching bag? Oy.

That’s my un-epic story of how I got my uhmazing shiner. =P

I gotta get me some feng shui…

A friend of mine is planning on moving into a new house and has asked me to help her redecorate her house. Yay! Interior design is so much fun. Anyways, she’s really in love with the Asian style and especially trying to use the “feng shui” style (meaning keeping the rooms balanced, clean, etc.) Real feng shui, created by the Chinese, related to the ying-yang, balance, and chi. The aim of feng shui is to create a space that utilizes elements, colors, and materials. This space becomes in harmony with nature and the flow of energy. There’s your random info for the day.

I don’t believe in feng shui, but hey, maybe the Chinese are on to something. If we keep our home as simple, organized, and “balanced” as possible, perhaps there is a sense of balance with your enviroment. Or that sense is your knowing there are less pieces of furniture to clean.

Anyways, my friend and I are thinking about doing this for her dinning room. Comments?

Scottsdale – Day 2

Dear Arizona,

I think your weather is too hott. I burned my feet outside at 9am. Do you see the problem? Your citizens spend too much time at the pool and all are gonna die of skin cancer.  I decided to try one of your mexican food resaturants, “Macayos.” No bueno. Your salsa was not salsa. Your taco was not a taco. It was definitely not real mexican food. However, you have some great hotels with fabulous drinks and live Flamenco music. So you’ve redeemed yourself for at least one day…

Love, me.

Scottsdale – Day 1

June 26: 9am: Wow, I can’t believe I forgot how crazy, loud, and circus-esque it is to be in the car with all four of my siblings. I’m not even sure I have the words to describe the experience. It’s like five separate brains, conversations, iPods, phones, and voices moving at the speed of light. Honestly, I remember talking to them, but I have no idea about what. It was a bit overwhelming. Good news – I still have at least half of my sanity. Woohoo!

Seven hours later: We finally made it. The drive was beautiful – lots of mountains, cactuses, and clear blue skies. The hotel is incredible too! We have a villa which is totally nice cause we all have fridges (and a kitchen so mom and I are gonna do a lot of the cooking here.)

5:45pm: Mom and I decided to go to the store to pick up some groceries. I never felt like I stood out so much. Everyone in the store had blonde-ish hair, and I was one of the only girls who was tall and had long, black hair. While walking through the store, I got a lot of looks and glances. Very awkward. These three guys actually had the guts to call out “hey baby!” in FRONT OF MY MOTHER. Agh so frustrating. Where’s a bodyguard when I need one!?

7:30pm: Kids are watching a movie poolside, Lici is at the gym, and I’m laying in bed trying not to fall asleep. You know I’m getting “old” when I’m tired at 7:30! Mucho pathetic. Oy.

Pre-vacation relaxation…

Apparently packing a family of seven is a bigger ordeal than I thought. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that five of the seven members are girls and thus require enormous ammounts of clothing, make-up, and shoes (which naturally can’t fit in just one “tiny” bag). I managed to magically fit all of my stuff in one bag…that was after I sat on my bag multiple times.

Finally! We’re all finished packing. I think we all have everything and won’t forget anything…though I’ve made a point this trip to NOT forget the one item I always leave behind – my toothbrush.

Family sat down after dinner to do devos and review the Colossians study the kiddos are going through. I forgot how much I love that book of the Bible.  “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you  to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. ” – Colossians 1:1o-12. Wow. I have to say, personally, my favorite part of that whole verse is where it says that we are heirs to the kingdom of light. Because of His sacrifce, we are eternally free from the darkness that we were.  So powerful.

After devos, the kids headed to bed and Lici and I decided to watch some corny Sci-Fi movie called 2012: Doomsday. I’m assuming it’s corny because…well it’s a sci-fi movie, and secondly its about the world ending. Thirdly, the opening music is sooooo sooooo dramatic and over the top, it’s a bit ridiculous. We’ll see how this turns out.

Edit:: We got less than 15minutes into the movie and decided to watch this movie called Lean On Me.  Morgan Freeman, one of my fav actors, stars as this teacher-turned-principle of this school in the ghetto. The story is how he basically picked the school up from the ashes of the gang violence and drugs. Totally amazing movie.

I guess it’s nice to be able to chill with the ‘rents and Lici before the long drive to Scottsdale tomorrow. That will be…interesting.

Anyone been to Scottsdale before? Suggestions of things to do/places to eat?

A picture is worth a thousand words…