Ouch...

Well...I have a herniated disk. That's the circle. It's supposed to be inbetween the bones instead of protruding. Just like my Brandy, except like 10 of hers are like that. Okay, only 2. I have to get an injection like an epidural to relieve it. Thank goodness.

My kids are about to be here for their one o'clock class. Have a good day!

let's see how this works...

I suppose I'm going to try this again. I was always told it's dangerous to keep a blog...but what the heck? Just don't put bad stuff in it and it will be fine, right? We'll see. If I hear anything from anyone...it's over. People seem to always have something to say about everything!

Let's see...I've been teaching for 3 total weeks. This is the start of week 4. It's Monday and I don't like Mondays. On Sunday nights I always have dreams of not being prepared enough and having to run around looking for things for kids to do. I am under so much stress at my job. I'm a long term substitute, which means that my contract only goes until the end of the semester and at that point they decide whether or not I can come back for the next year. Therefore, my job is to impress EVERYONE. It's so hard. I'm pretty sure that I've been doing a good job of that so far, but I feel overwhelmed at times. I feel like if I don't have a good lesson someone (being one of my students) will tell their teacher and that teacher will tell the wrong person and then I'll be in trouble. I doubt that my students would do that...but what if? Surely there's not a kid that knows what you're supposed to know when you get into college. Not that I HAVE bad lessons or anything...just what if I do something wrong? Every teacher messes up. That was something I learned in student teaching. Sometimes the people I was student teaching with would say something and I would think, 'We were told NOT to say that in college...' , and then the more I observed and taught myself, the more I know that what happened in college and what I learned in college sometimes gets thrown out the window. Teaching is the hardest, most fun thing I've ever done in my life. I feel like I've grown so much in the past (almost) month and if I grow that much as a person in that little of time, imagine what will happen in the years to come.

Alright, I'm done. The bell rang and I have to go watch my students in the hallway.

Have a great day! We'll see how much I update this thing...maybe I can get to several times a day like my Brandy!!!

Hello everyone.

I only update when big things are happening...so here it goes.

I'm the new elementary school music teacher at College Heights Elementary.

I guess I'm a grownup now. I guess it's time to get off this thing.

Thanks to all of my readers. All like 2 of you. And thanks to those of you who believed I could do it.

I'm a big girl now!

Bye.

ummm...

Well, hello.

I'm alive. Lots has changed in the past however long it has been since I've updated.

I'm student teaching at Wylie. Started at the elementary, now I'm at the high school and junior high. I love my day job. Quiznos, however, sucks. Not for much longer, though. Real world, here I come.

Chris and I moved in together. It's wonderful. He's quite the bed hog, however.

That's about it. Wyatt is still growing up. New picture:

I feel the same way too, kid.

More in a year or so. Bye.

You'd think that whenever I got out of school I would have more time to write...I guess I shot that theory.





Let's see...I've been working. I've been playing. I got in a wreck on the 4th of July and Geico totaled my car. Let me just say that all Geico has is good advertising. Everything else sucks. I want my Corolla back, that's all.





I cut my finger on the slicer at work and it hurts to type.





I still live in my apartment.





I still have my Chris.





Wyatt is growing up and getting into everything. Picture:

He's my cool buddy.

Nothing much else to say...I turn 23...twenty FRIKIN three...on Monday. I'm sad. I'm that much closer to 50 as far as I am concerned. I am going to Six Flags with my family and Chris though! :)

I start student teaching at the end of August. Nervous? Yes. I had a dream that the teachers were mean to me last night. Surely that won't happen.

I'm out. I'll update in another 4 months or so. haha.

I'm still here.

Has it really been over a month this time? Sorry. I just can't keep this thing updated anymore.

Well, my senior recital has come and gone. I'm in the middle of finals week. It is almost 8 am and I've been at school since 7am studying for my music history final at 8:45. My piano proficiency is at 8:30am, and my Forms and Analysis final is at 12:30.

I have never been so happy in my life.

I'm done. Really. Not done with this semester. I'm done with college. On Friday at 1pm, I will have officially completed all courses needed for an instrumental music education degree. Not to brag, but damn! It's been quite a journey. You have to have a true love for music to complete it, let me tell you. If you don't enjoy listening to Gregorian Chants and orchestral music from the Renaissance, you won't make it. Haha. I'm actually sitting here listening to some bizzare 20th century music...because it is the last music history test I will ever take!!! I did a hard-core score identification project last night...which I actually thought was fun. Am I a loser? No. I just found my niche and made it my career. Good call, Rachel. So the only thing I have to complete is all that testing to make sure I've been paying attention the past 4 years and student teach, and I'll have my degree in my hands. Degree. That sounds so grown up. I'm not scared, don't get me wrong. I'm super-nervous/excited. Real world, here I come. I made it to the other side.

Am I really about to be on a salary?!?! YIKES!

Chris and I have never been better. He took me shopping yesterday for a "completion of classes" present. No one has ever done something like that for me. I'm crazy about him. Still taking things one day at a time. We're finishing school before we do anything to A) make sure we can stand each other for a long period of time (like 5 years), and B) save money and not be broke because we got married in college. I think it's a pretty stupid thing to do, but to each their own. I'm happy with him just being by my side. That and the lack of pressure keeps him around.

I'm officially listening to the weirdest song I've ever heard. Riley's "In C." Check it out.

Still living in my apartment. It's looking more homey these days. I just had to break it in. Oh, and you don't realize how much crap you have until you move it into a small apartment. Oh, what I would give for another closet. It's just me and the dog for now. I have crazy neighbors who always have the cops around. Kinda makes me feel safe in a way. Then in a way, it doesn't.

I'm still night managing at the big Q. It sucks to say the least. People aren't sure how to get off their ass and work (sorry), so I have to pick up the slack or the customers suffer, and that is not fair to them. It was most stressful during the peak of everything being due, but now that it has come and gone it's getting easier. I guess having a real work ethic can suck sometimes. My crew is always amazing (because I make them work...muhaha), but the managers...we won't even get into that. :) Thank God I'm getting a real job...

Anyway. I have to memorize some composers of the 20th century in the next 21 minutes.

I made it. That's really all I wanted to say. Oh, and I'm really, really, really, really happy.

Bye.

just a little nervous...

Hey guys.

I don't have much time, but I need to...type, I guess. I'd rather talk, but I'm limited to myself and this mac in front of me.

My pre-recital jury is in a couple of hours. My stomach is in knots. I'm more worried about this pre-recital than I am the actual recital. This is where the "panel" (including all of the important people, we'll say) decides whether I can cut it on a recital or not. I've talked to others who have done this already, and apparently it is common to screw up in these and still get passed. I don't want to screw up though! I have done nothing but practice all weekend. I did absolutely no homework, and I definietly should have considering we are leaving for band tour and the end of the week! There is no way I could of concentrated anyway. I've done nothing but play this weekend. I sound solid for the most part. The only thing I am insanely worried about is getting off with the piano. Ugh.

This will all be over come lunch time. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. As if YOU care. Who is you anyway?

Wish me luck.

Spring Break...not at the beach.

Hey guys.

Babysitting was a blast, as usual. He barely made a peep except for his laughter. He's such a joy.

Just got back from the doctor. I'll be finding out critical information on my situation, which make me nervous/anxious/sad/scared...ugh. I just want all that to be over.

I have soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much homework over the break. More than I've ever had before. Yikes! 10 page paper (which will turn into 20 eventually) on Stravinsky, here I come. Sonata project, here I come. Recruiting project, here I come. Score study for the concert I am putting on in May, here I come. Practicing for my senior recital, here I come.

That's not even all of it! Ha!

Anyway, I guess instead of blabbing on here, I should go be productive. Yeah...right.

Bye!

Don't have much time...

I just had a moment between band and music history, so I thought I would write in this thing.

I will officially be able to student teach and be done with all of my classes in a little over 2 months. I'm scared. Real world, here I come. Right now, I do not have much time to myself. It tends to get frustrating, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel, so I know I am going to make it.

Chris and I are still great. Go figure. Sure, we have our "tiffs," some more hardcore than others, but we don't just bitch. We figure out a solution and move on from there instead of being whiny babies about it. That is what ruins a relationship. Both sides have to be willing to budge...it's all about sacrifice and I sure have learned that over the past year or so. Have we really been together for almost a year? Geez....

I'm almost a teacher. Did I mention that? It's just a bit scary.

Anyone seen a crazy chocolate lab?

I get to babysit Wyatt on Monday! If you haven't seen him, you should come to my house at 9am Monday morning. The cutest almost one year old will be hanging out with me.

It's almost Spring Break.

I'm out...I'm babbling. Peace.

School is well under way...

...and I'm not behind yet!

There's going to be quite a bit of homework this semester I believe. I've had so many pages of reading to do already that I'm feeling every so slightly overwhelmed. I have to write a 20 page music history paper before the end of the semester. I have string, piano, and trombone lessons. I quit jazz band 'cause I'm working like crazy and I don't have any time to myself...that was pretty much the only thing that could go. That and I have to work nights since I'm an official "night manager." Woot.

Everything is so great. Even school. I guess I just had to be patient and get things worked out...which I finally did. Chris and I are still going strong, taking it one day at a time. We talk about a future but we don't obsess over it (because I'm not a psycho witch!), and for that reason I think we've got a bond that no one's gonna break. It's a great feeling. Wyatt is about to be one, and he's doing great. Sitting up on his own, his little teeth are growing in, he coos and laughs all the time...he's adorable. It's almost like he knows what happened and he's grateful to be alive...

It's almost time for recital seminar...then work. Then homework. Then bed. Story of my life. At least I have my baby by my side...isn't that a song?

Until next time...

School is well under way...

...and I'm not behind yet!

There's going to be quite a bit of homework this semester I believe. I've had so many pages of reading to do already that I'm feeling every so slightly overwhelmed. I have to write a 20 page music history paper before the end of the semester. I have string, piano, and trombone lessons. I quit jazz band 'cause I'm working like crazy and I don't have any time to myself...that was pretty much the only thing that could go. That and I have to work nights since I'm an official "night manager." Woot.

Everything is so great. Even school. I guess I just had to be patient and get things worked out...which I finally did. Chris and I are still going strong, taking it one day at a time. We talk about a future but we don't obsess over it (because I'm not a psycho witch!), and for that reason I think we've got a bond that no one's gonna break. It's a great feeling. Wyatt is about to be one, and he's doing great. Sitting up on his own, his little teeth are growing in, he coos and laughs all the time...he's adorable. It's almost like he knows what happened and he's grateful to be alive...

It's almost time for recital seminar...then work. Then homework. Then bed. Story of my life. At least I have my baby by my side...isn't that a song?

Until next time...

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.