Work...and today...

...yeah, I passed all of my classes. At this point, this is all I really care to do. C or above is FINE with me. I even made some As! Go me!

Okay, I'm not complaining or anything (well, I guess I am actually), but I just have to get this off my chest.

First of all, just because I work at a fast food place (it is fancy fast food, just so you know) doesn't mean I'm worthless and have no idea what I'm doing. I freaking hate it when customers come in and talk to me like I'm 12 years old and it's my first day on the job. I usually just laugh to myself and think about how successful I am going to be when it is time to leave Quizno's. Let's see some of these people work 2 jobs and go to school full time as a MUSIC major...the second hardest major to graduate from, from what I hear. It just drives me crazy that people stereotype fast food workers. We're not all mess-ups. Some of us are just trying to pay for an apartment next to school so they can freakin' graduate. Sheesh. Other than that, work is good. Haha. I'm working full-time over the holidays so I can save up some money before I have to cut back on my hours. Being a day manager is a lot more fun than being a night manager...I love telling people what to do. :)

I went to the doctor today who told me I've had an upper respiratory infection for a while. I knew I had a cold a few weeks ago, but apparently that cold got a little to comfortable in my lungs. I'm on 3 prescriptions and I got two shots in my butt. It's sore to say the least. One of my meds is Musinex. If you haven't seen the commercial, you should try to find it. Cracks me up. I just picture my phlem throwing a party and the drugs crashing it. I think it's funny anyway. Maybe it is the drugs...

Christmas was great. I got a digital camera, and MP3 player, my car payment, and internet at my apartment from my parents. I love them. My sweet sweet sweet little brother gave me 100 bucks, which shocked the hell out of me. As my mom says, "He loves his big sister." He's a good kid. Both grandmas gave me 100 bucks. Rochelle got me 3 shot glasses (yay!), Chris got me a HUGE coffee table that he put together and got to my house all by himself (it said "team lift for your safety" on the box...haha), a pizza cutter, an ice cream scooper (there's reasons for that...), and last but not least...the 3rd season of Beavis and Butthead. He's so great. I got him a puppy, a bunch of stuff for his truck, and a down comforter. Even my PARENTS bought Chris a present. They always hate my boyfriends. I guess I finally picked the right one. :)

I finally finished moving out of my grandma's house tonight. Filled the car again. You never know how much crap you have until you have to move every last bit of it.

My trombone has to go to the shop for a few days. My recital is next semester so I'm getting the slide worked on a bit and getting that rattle taken out of my F attachment. It'll be like new again. I'm excited. Mom is taking me to buy a new formal dress for my recital since I'm finally playing by myself and not with 3 other guys in tuxes. I can get whatever color I want. It's exciting for me, bite me.

ANYWAY...I guess I've talked too much. I actually had time to sit here and write what has been going on in detail. When's the last time I did that? Potentially during my Xanga years...

I'll leave with you with my schedule for next semseter. Might I say, my LAST semester of college. I can't believe it. Hope you all had a good Christmas.

M/W/F
9:00--Forms and Analysis w/ Dr. Reid (M/W); Capstone (F) with Dr. Straughn
10:00--Secondary Methods w/ Ms. Steele
I'm on chapel probation...hehe...we'll see if I can weasel my way out of this one...
11:50--Wind Ensemble
1:00--Music History w/ Dr. Straughn
2:00--Vocal Concepts (another class I shall try to weasel my way out of) w/ Dr. Piersall (M/W)
4:00--Recital Seminar (W)

T/R
9:30--Advanced Conducting w/ Dr. Ward
11:00--you know.
11:50--Wind Ensemble
2:00--Concepts of Percussion
5:00--Jazz Band

Lesson? Piano Lessons?

Not too bad. I can't believe I'm so close.

I PASSED ALL OF MY CLASSES!!!

I made it!

I...made...it.

So far I have two Bs. At this point in my career, I am okay with Bs. This has been a pretty average semester, to say the least. I could have done better in most of my classes, but I had a lot going on personally that I let get in the way. The one grade that I am insanely worried about has not posted yet...we will see what happens with that.

Things are great. I have no money, but whatever. I can not pay my bills, but whatever. I have a sense of accomplishment and a great family to encourage me along. I know I say that everytime, but I can't help it. They are the best (Chris, you are included in the "family" category now!).

I am at my parent's house right now...Dad is fixing my headlight that has been out for a week or so. Who has time to take their car to their parent's house to fix the headlight?...oh...I do!!! What a relief. Ugh.

My apartment is pretty dirty. So is my car. Who has time to clean their apartments and cars...oh wait...I DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only thing I absolutely have to do over the holidays is go get that second opinion (if you don't know, there's a reason) and practice my trombone, since my senior recital (gasp) is next semester. I think I can handle that.

Alright. I am off to help dad with the headlight...believe it or not, I can use a socket wrench.

Until next time.

Well.

Yeah.

Um...things are...I don't know how to explain. In some aspects of my life, things could not get better. In others, I just want to roll over and die *cough cough* SCHOOL *cough cough*. Thank God I have my family and Chris to keep me going. Without them, I would have probably quit this shit by now. Between my medical problems, school, and work...I'm about to go crazy. I have so many things due in these next 3 weeks, it almost seems impossible to get them all in. I made a terrible grade on my music history test, and I'm not sure if I'm going to pass all of my classes.

Like I said, thank God for my family and Chris.

I have a piano lesson. Wish me luck. I probably won't update again until after school is out...stay tuned to see if I make it. It'll be a cold day in Hell if I do.

Wyatt's Halloween....

Hello everyone. Yes, I'm sitting in the computer lab at 11:23pm on a Saturday night working on my music history paper. The only reason I'm here so late is because I had to work at 4 and didn't get off until 10. I have no life outside of school and work. Ugh. Chris is practicing down the hall, and he got off at 10, too. What crazy lives we lead.

Anyway...I don't really have time to update, but I did want to share Wyatt's latest pics. He turned 7 months yesterday.

Oh, what I would give to be that naive again. He doesn't have a worry in the world, does he?

Back to the paper.

So it's been longer than a week...

Sorry.

Nothing has changed, really. Still doing all the projects, etc that I talked about before. Ugh. In fact, I just did an arrangement of Amazing Grace for sax quartet. It's awfully cheesy. At least it will get me my grade.

I move into my new apartment on Wednesday. I'm scared. I'm nervous. I have to get out of my grandmother's house though. Not only am I a burden on her, it's just time to move on.

I have a new dog. Actually, it's more like Chris', but I'll be taking care of it for the most part. It's an 8-month old chocolate lab named Coda (yes, like the musical "coda"...we thought it would be very appropriate!). She's NUTS. She'll be a good dog once the year mark hits and we train her to calm the hell down. She's soooo pretty. We're excited.

The jazz band is going to Corups Christi on Thursday, just like we did last year. Hopefully it will be as much fun as it was last year...something tells me it will be better, however. Thank God for change.

I don't want to go to Orchestration. At least I only have 2 classes today (I'm supposed to have five)...hooray for rain and overbooked teachers.

I'm gonna go grab some breakfast before class. I'm not sure when my next update will be...I wish I could read what I was going to write though. Ever thought about that?

Later.

The weekly update...

Seems as if I only have time to update this thing every week at this time...so here it goes.

I'm tired. School is kicking my butt over and over and over again. Projects, tests, homework, practicing, concerts, recitals, rehearsals, work, and trying to have a social life. I'm in over my head. The only thing I can do is keep on truckin...and that's what I do. I'm behind in a few classes, but oh freakin' well. I'll catch up eventually. I have this Saturday off, so we'll call that catch-up day. It's not that I'm being lazy...it's that there's too much going on. By the time I finish some of my homework, I'm exhausted, so I pass out. I also got some bad news at the beginning of the week....that's not helping. Ugh. Keep on truckin' though, right? This semester will be over before we know it. It's already freakin' Week 6. I'm stunned.

Wyatt turned 6 months old yesterday. That kid reminds me of what it's like to be naive...and that is so comforting. He's such a happy kid.

Chris and I are still wonderful. He's the most supportive, wonderful man I've ever met in my entire life. He's the male version of me. We hate everyone, we stick with our close friends, and we're smart asses. Ah, I love him!!! We're perfect, seriously. No one will ever come between us, and I've never been able to say that with such confidence. We know we could never find someone else as perfect. We're still growing and still have a whole lot of time to grow. It's a whole lot better not to rush things. Who knows if we'll still be tolerating each other in 2 years? (I'd place money on yes though!) He's great. We're great. I'm great (with him anyway). He couldn't of come at a more perfect time in my life. I'm still in shock that I, Rachel, can be happy in a relationship for more than 10 minutes. There's something deep there. Okay, I'll shut up. He's just the only thing that's going right in my life right now and I'm trying to stay positive.

Okay, hooray for no productivity for the past 20 minutes. I'm gonna head downstairs. I'll probably update again this time next week....so stay tuned.

Long time no post!

Hey, faithful readers.

I just happened to have a thirty minute break, so I got on the computer for other reasons than doing schoolwork! That's amazing.

What's been going on....Chris, work, school, homework. That's it. I don't have time to have a social life outside of Chris...but it's okay. We keep each other company and help each other get through school. It's good to have him here. We're staying on each other pretty hard about getting homework/studying done. I know we both need the motivation. He's doing great though. I'm so freaking proud of him. It's probably because he has a lot less outside stress this semester. Go figure. I just keep telling myself this is my last semester of hardcore classes, then I go to student teaching. They always said college was hard...but no one ever said it was this hard. Hooray, once again, for being a music major.

As far as fixing that particular thing in my life, I'm not going to post anything else about it because too many people that I don't want involved are getting involved. So I'll leave it at that. :-)

The music building is ice-cold. I need to remind myself to wear layers...especially since the high tomorrow is supposed to be 75! Thank you, Weather.

Work sucks. Bad. We're busy as crap these days, I work with idiots, and people run their mouths. Typical fast food. Really though...I work in rich-people fast food. It's a little bit different. My job is super easy compared to other jobs, and I still get out hours earlier than I would closing anywhere else...so I can't complain that much. But it does suck a little bit.

Chris and I are really good. Like I said before, we're busy. Our relationship is just growing and growing and we're getting closer and closer. We'll see what happens.

Wyatt is just about 6 months old now...he's growing up on us. He's developing slower than other babies, but considering his situation, I think he's doing great. He's smiling, laughing, cooing, and talking gibberish like crazy, though. I want one. Bad. But not yet. :-P

I have to go get the frostbite out of my hands. I'll update...sometime.

Oh, how things are changing...

So...my life is crazy right now. In a good way. Some changes are being made right now, and the transition is rough, but in the end, I'll come out on top. I can't put details...I don't have the right to let everyone know, nor do I really want anyone to know...but it does suck. I didn't want it to be this way in the least bit...but it's going to have to be. I can't keep living my life with someone in it controlling it (not talking about Chris here, just for the record...he's about as non-controlling as it gets!)...you don't realize things someone points them out...and then when you look to your other friends for guidance, they all say the same thing too. It takes an outsider sometimes. But now that I see...boy, was I stupid. I hurt so many people... because I thought I was better than them. Granted, I may be better (that wasn't cocky...), but the way I handled it was uncalled for. My apologies to those of you I've hurt in the past...oh...5, 6 years. My bad. I've been told that I've changed a whole lot even in the past couple of weeks. I feel better about my transformation. I think I'll be a more likeable person.

So wish me luck. Changing something that's been in my life for the past 12 years is pretty rough.

Until next time.

No new pics of Wyatt. He'll be 6 months old in a couple of weeks, and he's still growing as fast as ever.

i almost forgot!

I can't go without a new Wyatt picture! :)

Until next time.

Sarah requested an update...so an update she gets! Just for you though, Sarah :)

School is....eh. I'm glad I have something to do...but it's a little more than I bargained for. The amount of homework I already have is insane. However, on the up side...I'm graduating really soon. I keep telling myself that. I'm also getting a ton of financial aid dinero...which makes me extremely happy. As soon as I get the money, I'm apartment-searching. Time to start a new chapter of my life...and I can't wait. I'm so excited.

Chris and I are still going strong. Still as happy as I was the day we started being a "thing." I have a good feeling about this one. I've had good feelings about the others as well, yes....but not one of them has lasted this long. He's the best thing that has ever happened to me. I'm glad I caught this opportunity when I did. Who would of EVER thought I would be happy in a relationship? NOT ME!!!

Work is good. I'm already back to my manager position. Pam is working around my schedule and giving me 23-30 hours a week, which is what I asked for. She's amazing. The people I work with are pretty cool, too...except for a few, but hey, that's anyplace you work. There's always a villiage idiot.

Alright, I must get back to my homework. I have a very fun night planned. :-)

Everyone take care! I'll try to update more often...

Apparently, I go to the crappiest school on the planet. Can't do whatever I want or someone gets mad. Hey, I'm 22, right? Oh, okay. Just making sure.
Band sucks. I miss everyone that didn't come back (more than I expected...). So glad this is my last year at this stupid school.
There are only like 15 instrumental music majors that came back. That's very sad to me. I don't know how many freshman there are, but still. I miss my old friends.
I hope I can tough this out one more year...
Oh, and since I had to delete a post that had some pictures on it that I'm apparently ALLOWED to put up, I'm putting them back up:

K, thanks. Oh, and my favorite picture of the week:

He makes me so happy. So yeah, those are the 2 most important men in my life. They make me happier than I ever thought I could be.

Band starts at 3:15...I guess I'm gonna go get some "crap" done....

update...

Howdy, faithful readers.

Not much to update on...Chris and I are still great, I finished my Teaching Students With Special Needs class with a fat A, and Quizno's is going great. It's so nice to get out of work before 11pm. Before 10pm, even.

Summer band starts in less than 2 weeks. Un-freakin-believable. I mean, summer is gone. Just like that. So here starts my last full year of college...that's great news. This is going to be a really freakin' hard year. Allow me to explain:

Mon/Wed/Fri

9:00am--Orchestration and Arranging with Dr. Reid (Monday and Wednesday only)
10:00am--Marching Band Techniques and Wind Literature with Ms. Steele (Monday and Wednesday only)
11:00am--Chap-hell (Chris is making me go with him...dammit)
11:55am--Marching Band
1:00pm--Music History I with Dr. Straughn (uh oh)
2:00pm--Concepts of Flute and Double Reeds with Mrs. Straughn and Dr. Ward (Monday and Wednesday only)
3:00pm--if I had to guess, this would be my lesson time. I'm not sure which day, though.
4:00pm--Recital Seminar

Tues/Thurs
9:30am--Beginning Conducting with Dr. Ward
11:00am--frikin' Chap-hell
11:55am--Marching Band
2:00pm--Concepts of Jazz and Improvisation with Mr. Bush
5:00pm--Jazz Band

That's why. Next semester is even worse, but we won't get into that.

Alright. I'm going to go find my boyfriend and watch Days of Our Lives...

Sorry it's been so long. I've been pretty busy. I have quite a bit to update on, however, so bear with me.

I'm no longer working at JCPenney's. Quizno's called me and wanted me to come back...and I was like HELL yes. I make the same pay, I get more hours, and Pam is going to work with my school/football season schedule. They already have me back at manager status. So screw you, JCPenney. I feel bad leaving them high and dry...but then again I don't. So I'm back home at Quizno's now...working with some of my old friends and my good ol' bro. Keep my brother in your thoughts; he's having some difficulties dealing with some really stupid fucking people. Fucking stupid bitches. Didn't I say in a previous entry that bitches need to quit talking shit? Okay, that's what I thought. I'm a very protective sister. Don't fuck with my brother. :-)

In other news....I have strep throat. Ohhh yeah. I mean, it's bad. Puss pockets in my throat (that's lovely, eh?), fever....I'm drinking Chloraseptic like water (cherry flavored...yum!) and I have a doctor's appointment at 3:40. The only plus from this is Chris is taking care of me. :) It's the sweetest thing ever when the woman gets taken care of, since it's usually the other way around. I love that guy.

Have I been sappier lately? I think so. Blame it on my sweet boyfriend.

I need to go make myself presentable. I think I've caught everyone up with my crazy life...oh yeah, class is over this week, but I have a project and a 10 page paper due the next week. At least I get to do it over Tourette's Syndrome...hehe.

Peace out, kids.

it's my birthday!

I'm actually 22 now. I'm old.

Off to celebrate with the family....got the celebrating done with my friends the past few nights....I'm a little exhausted.

Bye!

just one thing...

It's my birthday in one day. I already started celebrating.

And that one thing that I had to say...

BITCHES NEED TO QUIT TALKING SHIT!

Thank you. That is all.

i need to vent.

Okay, I've thought this for a while, but I'm going to publicly announce it now.

I absolutely HATE "Christians."

Yes, HATE.

I work at JCPenney; I've already established that. Working there, you deal with all KINDS of different people, from Mexican familes who don't know how to stop producing, to old ladies who move about as fast as a turtle, to bitchy older women who get mad when you don't have their size, etc. But today...I helped an older couple who had obviously just come from church. Not only did their attire give it away, but they were talking about the sermon that they had heard (I overheard them talking while I was helping other customers in the line). Whenever they got at the front of the line, the first thing they did was bitch about the wait. Okay, whatever, I'm used to that. I'm usually the only one back in Catalog and at times it gets backed up. Then they asked me if I could help them with something in the WOMEN'S department, which is on the other side of the store. When I politely told them that I can't leave the counter, the lady said, "So I waited in line for 15 minutes for you to tell me that you can't help me? I thought this was the customer service line BLAH BLAH BLAH..." I then politely explained to her that this was for credit card problems mostly, but then she told me how much of an idiot I was. She then complained to my manager, who pretty much laughed at her face. GRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So that's why you Christians have a bad name...because of people like that. Go to hell, you fake Christians.

Was that harsh? I don't care.

Chris is almost here. Bye.

so good not to be a typical girl...

Yesterday was a good day. I worked from 130-730, then hung out with my favorite boys in the entire world...Chris, Justin, and Kyle. We were watching a video of the London Symphony Orchestra playing Shostakovich's 5th Symphony. Holy crap, is it amazing. As I was sitting there, not only was I thinking about how dorky we were (I glanced at everyone at one point, and all three of them were engrossed with the TV...hilarious.), but about how a typical girl would sit there and bitch about how boring it is. I thought about a few girls in particular and how they would react to the situation...and it just made me laugh. I guess that's why they've kept me around for so long (I've known Kyle for almost 15 years, Justin 6, and I've known who Chris was since my junior year of high school, but we didn't start talking until he got to ACU). And in our little clique, there are no other girls. None. They probably know I'd beat them up or something...haha. But yeah, that was a good feeling to know they accept me as an equal instead of some annoying bitch that hangs out sometimes. Three cheers for not being an annoying bitch!

Why am I up so early on a Saturday? I don't have to be at work until 2!

Tonight will probably consist of the same thing that happened last night...except probably some new music. Doesn't that just sound dorky? I promise we know how to have fun, too. TRUST me. We do.

I think I'm going to go play with Wyatt. That sounds like fun.

the joys of playing the trombone...

Last night, I was highly encouraged by the person who is the most important to me (that's my amazing boyfriend). He's really freaking good at the saxophone, and while I'm okay at the trombone, he told me something I've never heard anyone say. He said that since I'm a girl, everyone automatically expects less of me (which is true, sadly), but I measure up to the guys in my section, soar past them even. I know I could be better, and he told me last night if I cared as much as Joe Alessi or Ron Barron (should you know who they are, kudos to you), I could be as good as them. That was a pretty big eye-opener to me. So today, I practiced. Yes, Rachel practiced during the summer. That's just weird. I played some Eric Ewazen pieces (again, kudos if you know who that is). He's absolutely amazing. Anyway, I have a new kind of encouragement, since it's been so long since I've had a boyfriend that believes in me. That's motivation enough for me. He got me to quit smoking, and he's going to keep me practicing to make me a better trombone player. It's amazing what you can do with the support of the ones you love. Gah, I'm crazy about him....and the bass trombone....
I got to feed and rock Wyatt to sleep last night. It was the most relaxing thing I've done in a long time. I just wish I could go back to those days...no responsibilities, and nothing but eating, sleeping, and looking cute.
Alright, Lingo is about to come on. If you haven't seen Lingo, check out the Game Show Network every weeknight at 6 and 6:30. I swear I'd kick some major ass if I ever went on that show.

just an introduction...

Welp, I got tired of Xanga and decided to give this one a go. Xanga is just...so...I don't know. Xanga-ish. Seems like it's for a younger generation. I'm all grown up now!

I guess we'll start with the basics. I'm Rachel, I'm about to be 22, I go to Abilene Christian University (but don't tell anyone that, please), I'm an instrumental music education major, and I love every minute of it. I'm probably one of the biggest nerds you'll ever meet. I get excited when I hear a cool chord progression in a trombone quartet I'm listening to. Yes, I listen to instrumental music. The "music" of today honestly makes me sick, and it makes me even more sick to know that these untalented people are getting more money than I'll ever have an opportunity to make, and I'm a hundred more times talented than they are. I know that probably sounds really cocky, but it's the honest-to-God truth. I play the bass trombone, recorder, and a little piano. (That's me and Goldilocks, my bass trombone, to the right.) :-) Music is my passion, if you haven't figured that out yet. There is nothing better than listening to the beautiful sound of a trombone. I'll be graduating in about a year and a half if all goes to plan, and then I'll be looking for a job in the area as an elementary school music teacher. I feel like it's my calling. I'm crazy about kids. My brother just had a baby boy, and he stole my heart from the minute I saw the first sonogram. Allow me to show him off; his name is Wyatt Alan Martin.
Oh man, I'm so crazy about this kid! He was at Cook's hospital for the first couple of months he was alive 'cause he was premature, but he was under the best care possible and is now home!! Aunt Rachel is probably the proudest aunt in the entire world, hands down.
I have the most amazing boyfriend/best friend/companion in the entire world. I don't have a picture of him, unfortunately. He hates pictures, and I'm not too fond of them either, so yeah. I'm sure he appreciates me not following him around with a camera all the time anyway! We have a pretty crazy story, but everything finally worked out for the better and I am so incredibly happy. It took a lot of patience, I'll tell ya that, but it was TOTALLY worth it. I'm crazy about him. I actually trust him, which is a weird thing. I'm not one to trust guys. I was a guy-hater there for a little while, but he showed me that not ALL guys suck. I can't thank him enough for that. He makes me happier than I have ever been, even after all this time. I usually dump guys after...oh...2 months, tops. I've kept this one around. My entire family likes him, which is also weird. I'm okay with this weird, though. :-) Maybe I can convince him to take a picture and I'll try to get one up here. He's oh-so-hot though, the dark and mysterious type. It drives me crazy, in a good way. We have a great relationship and I can't wait to see where we end up.
What else...I work at JCPenney's, and it sucks. I work in the Catalog and Credit department, which basically means I take of everyone's special needs. I place catalog orders, help people with their credit card bills, catalog returns, inventory, and do everything a normal associate does. I don't mind it too much, but the people I work with really really REALLY suck. I'm quitting soon, however, which makes me very happy. Summer band starts on the 20th of August and there is absolutely no way I'd be able to keep the hours I'm working now and keep my 3.7 (which I brought up from a 2.3, thank you very much). So yeah, that's me. I live with my grandmother for the time being, but I'm hoping to find my own place soon.
I'll write more when something interesting happens. My life is pretty repetitive, however. It's a good repetitive, though. Take care, everyone!