finish line

So, 'tis done. I have finally finished the two compositions that I was commissioned to write. Well, technically I was commissioned to write just one, but my busy crazy dad took on two ("just give me what's left") and since I purposely try hard not to be crazy busy, I volunteered to take one of his. In case you have no idea what I am talking about, both my dad and I were among seven Idaho composers commissioned to write a composition for public school students in Idaho. Our pieces will be posted on a website for Idaho music teachers to download for free for three years. It is part of a copyright settlement--all 50 states got money and this is what Idaho decided to do with theirs.

The first one is called "Journey: Travels of Lewis and Clark" for 2-part elementary choir and piano OR 2-part choir, Orff instruments, and piano.  I wrote two versions of the accompaniment in case teachers didn't/couldn't have kids or time to learn the Orff glockenspiels (little metal instruments) and xylophones. The other is "Idaho Wanderings" for middle school string orchestra. I based the theme on the letters I-D-A-H-O, using a system assigning a note name to each letter of the alphabet. 

I am fairly pleased with how they turned out--more so with "Journey" since "Wanderings" was a race to the finish line (I submitted them last night at 11:30 p.m.--and yes, it was due at midnight). BUT, they are done, I can finally move on with life, and start packing for my move to Corvallis on Saturday. Yea, packing. I LOVE moving. It's my favorite. NO, I'm not being sarcastic, no way. (o;

my favorite olympic sport

Jeanette and I were watching the Olympics this last week and we were surprised and thrilled to see a sport we never knew existed and that is now our favorite: TRAMPOLINE. Yes, trampoline. The Olympic sport of trampoline is where they start jumping (obviously) and when they think they are high enough, they start doing flips and twists, all in a row. And they get more points if they keep the same height. It's pretty much like gymnastics but with jumping. It was too cool. 

I am going to miss the Olympics. I watch sports that I would never watch any other time, but am glued to my TV to watch competition at this level. It will soon be over, but I will console myself by watching football. Go Beavs! Go Vikings!

stupid preview

Why does it look different when I preview it than when I post it? Sheesh. Sorry about the above picture layout. I'm still figuring this whole thing out.

Is it offensive if a 2-month old does it?

Aunt Katie loves her nephew. Loves him so much that she sometimes can't contain herself. And when he falls asleep before he is supposed to be done eating, Aunt Katie must help wake him. So, she gives him too much love by kissing him repeatedly until he gets so annoyed that he wakes up. BUT, before she could do just that this particular time, he showed her his opinion on the subject:

I really do apologize if this offends anyone. It was too funny not to capture in a photograph, especially since I was about to annoy him. BUT, here is the real Drew:

I've decided that if I continue to be the kind of aunt that her nieces and nephews will show such strong reactions to, I might as well go all out. You know, pinching their cheeks and giving them big wet kisses, leaving bright red lipstick smears behind that won't come off no matter how hard they rub at it. And I will always promise to have and offer the candy that is at the bottom of my purse, especially if it is fuzzy and tastes like pennies. "Not the fuzzy penny candy! NOOOOOO!!" They will run in terror. They will shudder at my approach. They will hide behind their mother. Oh yes, they will hide. 

That's what too much love can do...

Buckled under the pressure

So, it's done. I have finally caved and created my first blog. But not only that, I also joined Facebook! Who woulda thunk? Of course, these creations have nothing to do with procrastinating and doing everything I can NOT to work. That obviously is not the reason. Yeah...