Failure is not an Option

I took two finals today already. My dance one was easy...we just had to show up to our party! My math one, however, was not so easy. I was so sure that half of the things on our test were not on the study guide (and more than half the class agreed with me). These next few weeks I will not fail. I cannot fail. It is just simply not an option. I am determined to pass every single class and every single final.

I leave for Colorado tomorrow (audition camp!). Then I return home, to Oregon, on Sunday. I have so much packing to do and so much to do before tour. I have a lot of things to buy, a lot of decisions to make...this is all making my head spin. I just need a day to myself. Maybe the plane ride will clear my head...maybe not. I don't know...I need to think.

I am going to keep everyone updating on what happens! Yeah! I will update more later!

A Very Small Dent...

Do you ever try to make a BIG dent in your "to-do" list and you feel like it is all just getting worse before it gets better? Yeah...that is me right now. I have been cleaning my room for about two hours (preparing to pack for the summer) and it feels like it is messier rather than cleaner. I guess that is what happens with cleaning. Ugh...I still have so much to do and such little time to do it all in. I still ahve to write a reflection for my Modern Dance final tomorrow, study for tomorrow's math final, finish my journal for my Improvisation class on Tuesday, put the finishing touch on my dance portfolio by Thursday, submit my resume to Lehi High School and Provo high School by Tuesday, and double check that everything is all set in motion by the time I leave for Colorado by Friday morning (including check-outs for the apartment). I expect very little sleep for a while (I may sleep some on the plane on my way to my Colorado audition, but I cannot make any garuntees). I think I will finally sleep on Sunday when I arrive back in oregon and sleep in a bed with little stress. I be able to actually relax a little. But until then...it's work, work, work.

That's all for tonight.

Projects, Portfolios and Life...oh my

Wow! I just made my "to-do" list and have come to realize how much I actually have to do for the next week. I go back to Oregon on April 27th. I will only be home for a few weeks before tour (by the way, if anyone wants to help financially let me know. I need a little more money for laundry days, tour stops, extra equipment and repairs, plane tickets out to the location and money for living arrangements while there. I am doing all I can to get the extra money, but I think I may need some help)! All this week, I get to study for all my finals, cleaning my room and packing for Oregon, pack for Colorado camp, finish dance portfolio (for class and marticulation), work on the website, and confirm teaching job (I will tell more about it in a minute). This is a very general list (go figure). I basically wrote out every little thing I have to do down to the minute (pathetic I know). In short, I will be a busy girl for a while.

So, I must explain a potential teaching job, but it invovles a longish story (and you can't tell anyone about this Aunt Marie...mom and dad don't know about it yet, and they can't find out for a while) . Back in November, I was offered a teaching job for West Jordan High School Colorguard. I gladly took and started working for them as the movement specialist and the technician (I couldn't be director...I was 19 when I took the job and you have to be 20 not turning 20). Long story short, Joey (the director whom I worked under) and I helped take them to a first place finish at state championships at the beginning of April winning previous 5th place, third place, second place and first place before state championships. In February, I was asked to submit a resume for a permenent teaching and director position at West Jordan High School (director=boss of the colorguard). I was eventually beat out by my good friend and fellow performer Bails (I was told he has slightly more experience than me and I was a second option if he declined the offer). He wants to work with the guard on his own. Meaning, I do not have a teaching job with West Jordan High School, but I may have one with either Lehi or Provo High School! I have interviews next week. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I am so very excited for Blue Knights camp next weekend. Drum Corp is coming up close meaning I get to do what I love all summer! Finally, I am going somewhere in my performance career!

Guess what? Jamie got a snake that we have affectionatly named chess because of the pattern on her underbelly. She is so gorgeous. She is a dark colored 4 month old cornsnake and she has won my heart enough for me to purchase one of my own and give her a tank buddy! I am planning on getting one next week! I am way excited. Chess is so beautiful and oh-so-curious. She likes to follow my finger and pokes her head out of her bedding every once in a while to view her surroundings! She is so adorable. I get to finally hold her tomorrow (she was feed dinner within the last few hours and is still digesting her meal! She get to be up to five feet long! I was jumping up and down at PetSmart when I saw her and when Jamie wanted to take her home! I know I'm weird, but I have learned to love all animals and never had a reason to be afraid of snakes! I will post a picture of her soon! She is gorgeous!

Okay, time for what little sleep I can get this entrie week. I will write when I can.

Somebody Put A Stop to the Madness

The week before finals always seem to be the worst. I just finished nearly seven hours of math homework. Then I check my email and find that my math teacher was unable to post the study guide due to technical difficulties with her computer. So, she decides to send the whole thing after midnight. We have a class final tomorrow and a department final on Monday. How do you not get us the study guide before midnight. Now, when I finish writing some of the papers I am procrastinating I get to spend a good chunk of time studying. Isn't it a general rule of thumb that you should get plenty of rest before a major test?...and some decent food? If there is one thing I know from finals weeks and the week before is the stress that builds up. Here is the thing though. I knew I would be this busy so I finished all my homework from last week that was due this week. I got tons of assignments and study guides today and was told "this is due next class." Excuse me...I am taking 14 credits this semester. I have many classes that are Monday through Friday. So, alas, I will be up late for a while. Thank goodness for reading day on Friday (reading day = study day = no school!!!) Maybe I can actually get some sleep. Yeah, not a happy camper right now.

Can't Wait...

This beautiful weather makes me want to jump into a swimming pool! I want summer to be here. Today, Utah has hit 81 degrees Farenheit!!! I wore a skirt and did not need a jacket at all today! I can not wait for summer to be here! I can tour, camp, and play! Oh glorious sun and light until 8:30pm! Long walks in flip flops... ah it is glorious! Too bad rain and snow are in the forecast tomorrow. Such as Utah weather.

My Decision...Advice Welcomed!

I finally got an email from the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corp in Denver, Colorado. They want me to come out and do a personal audition for dance, flag and a weapon spot. I will still send out video auditions to Blue Stars in Wisconson, The Academy in Arizona, Bluecoats in Ohio, and Phantom Regiment in Illinois. I know that Bluecoats and Phantom Regiment are in the top five, but I have a better chance with the Blue Knights, The Academy, or Blue Stars but it does not hurt to send in video auditions to as many places as possible! I plan on going to Blue Knights camp on April 24th and arrive back in Oregon on the 26th or the 27th (whichever flight I can get for a cheaper price). I will work for my dad as much as possible (if he will let me)up until I leave for tour and after I get back until school (August 27th) and that will help pay for tour and give me more money for the upcoming Fall semester. I make money, go on tour all summer, get tan, loose a ton of weight, learn to sleep on a bus and on a gym floor, and work the hardest I have ever worked in my life. But it will all be so worth it. I will come back with amazing experiences and the mentality to continue working hard.

I get to work very hard these last few weeks of school. I have project after project, paper after paper, portfolio after portfolio that must be completed before the end of next week. My weekend will be spent completing some of these assignments and I am hoping and praying none of my teachers assign more homework. I already have a headache just thinking about it all. I also have to pack everything up for the summer. Pull out the asprin and turn off the alarm clocks. Dead and finals week...BRING IT ON!!!

And so it begins!

Only a few more long weeks of projects, tests, papers and finals until my new journey begins! Well, it doesn't begin. It all began in high school when I saw the colorguard perform at a football game. Little did I know it would take me down this path. When school ends I get to quickly pack my bags for tour camp in April (literally after finals...finals end on a Thursday and I leave Friday morning)! Then I have to wait a whole month until I finally move to the location site and start my drum corp (pronounced core) career! Then I return in august and audition for Inspyre Independent Winterguard (if all goes well)! TheN I rehearse until April and it all starts over agina. Plus the possiblity of teaching dance and/or colorguard and pursuing my dance education at school!!! Life will be fun for me! I will be spinning all year long! I will finally get to push myself further and further into my career!

Another part of my life will soon begin...if I can get it together. Pray for me.