The sacrificial lamb

That's what they called me in choir yesterday. When the choir circles to sing, I stand between Lindsay and Kelsey, and whenever Krause is looking for a soloist they pretend to be busy marking their music and he often ends up picking me. I'm not quite sure why he makes us do random solos in the first place. I don't mind so much if I actually know the piece--like last time, when he had me do "Judea"--but yesterday we had barely looked at the piece and the alto line was awkward, so I really psyched myself out. I'm just not a soloist, though I sing like one. In a group I'll belt it once I've learned the part, and I seem to end up leading the section quite often, on entrances at least. But put me by myself in front of people and I just can't do it. I just get so nervous, and my voice comes out all shakey. Although, if I continue this pattern of being the "sacrificial lamb" I might get used to it.

Wednesday night was the busiest it's ever been at the writing center. It figures that the one night Dianna has to skip out on me I get people asking for help from one end to the other of my shift. We had to sign our timesheets today, and I discovered that with the extra shift I picked up I'm going to be getting the same size check this month as the last two combined. Woot! That'll all go for Europe. But next semester I think I'll go back to only two nights a week--it just works better.

Last night Brittany came into our room to steal candy and ended up staying half an hour just talking. It was actually quite fun, in spite of the fact that we had been about to go to bed. It was a random assortment of girl talk and random stories of us being weird as kids. I tell ya, I spend time with the most random people this year. It really is great fun.

-Kim

Sometimes the hardest thing to believe is the truth

Yeah, don't trouble youself too much over the title, it's a line from a song. It's on Relient K's new album, which I got in the mail on Monday as part of the super fan pack. It also included a vinyl copy of the Mmhmm album, which I can't wait to listen to when I go home, since we have a working record player in the basement. The best part is, the records are clear! So cool.

Last night I stayed up past midnight getting my philosophy paper done. My brain was floating, and I couldn't come up with a title for the life of me, so we asked random people in the computer lab for help. Yes, I've been printing thigs in the lab lately, because Herbie (my printer) has begun doing strange things, like grabbing multiple sheets of paper and ruining what I try to print. Grr-ness. I also got my test back in philosophy today, and it made me so happy I sang all the way back to my room. I had been rather worried about my score on the essay portion, but I did fine. I was almost late to class today. Most days, at the end of music theory David will start playing the piano, and I never want to leave. If it were not for such an important class as philosophy, it would be very hard indeed.

It's cold out now. But the snow is pretty, and I now get to wear my new coat. I've gotten so many compliments on it, that it's almost starting to feel silly. But I love my coat--it's warm and green and it has toggles! If that's not the verry essence of coolness, then I don't know what is. ;)

I called Deb today about my schedule next week. She seemed a bit disappointed that I can only work one day during break, but it's really all that works. Theoretically we'll be in Sioux Falls Thursday and Friday, and I have a wedding to attend Friday night (yay for Josh and Sheena!). On Sunday I'mm be coming back here, so that only leaves Saturday for real recupperation and working on the two papers I'll have going. Oh well, she's glad I can at least work the day before Thanksgiving to help them get ready.

Well, time to run off to band. Tonight's episode of LOST is going to be extended, so we're having a party. Yes!

-Kim

My mommy is still sick

Some of you may not be aware that my mother has now been sick and unable to teach for the past four weeks. We thought she was finally getting better, but I just called home and my dad told me they went to the emergency room this morning and she's staying in the hospital for a few days to get her fluids back up. This all started with bronchitis, but the medicine they gave her affected the bacteria in her stomach, making her generally miserable. So she dealt with that for quite a while and then the bronchitis came back and the medicine screwed up her insides AGAIN. She's been miserable being unable to go back and teach. If you would lift her up in your prayers, it would be greatly appreciated. And pray for Tiffany, too. See Jesse's blog for details.

Well, I survived my huge philosophy test and the band concert, though neither of them seem nearly as important at the moment. Dianna will be getting back from Relient K sometime this afternoon. I can't wait to see the pictures.

-Kim

A little warning would have been nice...

So at today's band rehearsal, when we finished tuning, Doc suddenly announced at I'm the concertmistress and I'm in charge of tuning the whole band at the begining of the concert tomorrow night. I also have to walk on stage all by myself after everyone else has aleady sat down and stand one Doc's podium. It's not like it's hard, but it is rather nervewracking to be so suddenly thrust into a prominent position. Of course, I already have virtual solos for half the concert, but that's because I'm the only first flute. I guess the real cause of my perturbation is just the lack of forewarning. If he had at least mentioned it to me before he announced it to the rest of the band, I wouldn't have been caught so off-guard. As a sophomore I'm already flute section leader, I've been entrusted with the tuner for the woodwind section, and now I'm concertmistress. But enough about that. I just want to invite everyone out there who is able to come to the band concert tomorrow night at 7:30 in Jeschke. Friendly faces (and ears) in the audience always help.

So, what else has been going on to keep me from posting this past week? Well, there are fun things like nearly setting off the fire alarm frying bananas, a new book to read, the Back to the Future trilogy, and random antics with Mae and David. Then there are other, not-so-pleasant things. This Friday I have a huge philosophy test, which I really need to study for. I need to keep my grade up, I already got a B on our first paper (that really took me down a peg, too). Our next paper is due next Wednesday, and I'm starting to majorly stress out about it. It is because of this that I've decided not to go with Dianna to the Relient K concert Friday night. I would so love to see them in concert someday, but this is just not the weekend for me to take a roadtrip. I'm sure they'll be within driving distance again sometime before I graduate.

I registered for my spring classes today. I didn't have any trouble getting what I wanted, except for my violin lessons. They had to create a session for me, but I think it's okay now.

I think there was more I wanted to say, but I've forgotten it now.

-Kim

I love music theory!!!!!!!!

Wow. I just spent the last 20 minutes of my practice session jamming out. I never do that. But now that I've learned so much in music theory, I actually know what I'm doing! I suppose I might have figured some of this out earlier had I tried, but I'm still uber excited. I was playing minor scales to review for our quiz this Friday, and then I just sort of started dinking around on a g harmonic minor scale and it ended up being what would have been a really cool song if I could remember any of it. I think I need to tell Nancy that she's doing an awesome job teaching our class. I was so excited that I was even dancing around the room, and you know how graceful I'm not.

On a side note, I think I'm becoming something of a hot chocolate connoisseur. Since I can't drink the coffee (it makes my head feel like it's floating), I keep trying the hot chocolate and white hot chocolate with various flavor shots. So far, all have been delightful, including raspberry white hot chocolate and Irish cream hot chocolate. At this rate, I'll be out of flex dolars within two weeks. Oh well.

-Kim