Oh the Bus...

Not to be a snob, but I try to keep to myself on the bus. I mean, let's be honest, if I were to encounter the wrong person I am small enough to put in your pocket without anyone noticing! Not to scare you mom (don't worry I'm very safe). Well lately it seems no matter what I do people feel the need to converse with me. I study music and for some reason as soon as people find this out, they feel the need to tell me their own music talent. Here are two instances of this happening...

A lady sits next to me yesterday and asks me what I study at the U of A. I tell her music education. She proceeds to tell me that she:
- Was a performance major herself
- Could win any audition
- Had SUCH talent
- Her mother was not psychologically supportive
- Her audition for the Paris Conservatory was not only unattended by her mother but that her mother sabatoged her audition
- People without support are a little "off"...you know, like Oprah (what??)
- Was all alone as a child and was still all alone now
- Had such talent
- Gets mad when she sees other people with psychological support from their famillies.

You get the picture but this went on for about 10 minutes! She repeated these same things over and over and asked me over and over "do you see what I'm saying?" "do you understand what I'm saying to you?" And she didn't let me say anything! It was very clear by the end of her bus journey that she was not all there. Poor thing!

After that conversation, I decided it was vital that I have my earphones on at ALL times! So today I'm sitting at the bus stop (with my ipod on) and a young guy (probably 20 yrs. old) sits down. As we are getting on the bus he asks me if I go to the U (that what they call U of A here). And I say yes and he asks what I study and I say music. We get on the empty bus and he sits next to me! UGH! I'm still listening to my music when he asks...

Guy: What kind of music do you have on there?
April: Pretty much every kind.
Guy: You should get my number because I really like music too
April: oh...no thanks (as polite as possible of course)
Guy: I have my own band and everything...we're going to be famous (insert creepy grin)
April: Oh good for you!
Guy: I bet you would like our music (trying to convince me one more time I need his number)
April: I'm sure I would...

I had my music on the whole time and he never got the hint! I even started texting as well! I think riding the bus is interesting...and a little creepy. But not creepy enough to buy a $500 parking permit. Stay tuned for more funny bus stories, I'm sure I will have plenty over the next three years!

In the Midst of a Monsoon...

I was sitting at my computer doing homework. I noticed a major storm moving in over the mountains (they are called monsoons here in Tucson). It starts to rain incredibly hard and all of the sudden, I see the most brilliant rainbow I've ever seen in my life!





These pictures don't do it justice but the entire sky was lit up and there were amazing reds and oranges in the whole sky!

Thomas was even interested.



And then just like that, it was gone and the entire sky was black again. Wow!

The First Day...

I just wanted to let you know I survived my first day of teaching college! And I must say, I think I did so with flying colors! I really enjoyed teaching the college kids! I've been riding the bus to school and today as I was getting off the bus, I heard someone calling "teacher, teacher!" It took me a minute to register that this individual was talking to me...it was one of my students! Once I realized she was talking to me, I looked at her and she said "teacher teacher! See you next time in class!" I thought it was cute. I think it's going to be a good semester...for teaching anyways, I am not excited about my Contemporary Music Analysis class. But I do get to take a class called "Writing a Book." Apparently I am going to write a book...wait...didn't I already do that? It was called my THESIS!!! Ha! Hope you all have a great week!

One Reason I Still LOVE OC...

I just ran across this video on YouTube and it makes me so happy! Most of you have seen the real video from "Ok Go" and this is an OC professor spin-off. I love how goofy the teachers can still be at that place!

The Work of a 5 Year Old...

My nephew Christian got hold of my camera and wanted to take pictures. He wanted to take pictures of things around the house so I could remember his house after I got home. He probably took over 50 pictures. Here are some of my favorites...I think Christian has found his calling. he he!

Impromptu Trip

I found out that I wasn't going to be able to start work at the LOFT for another week so I decided to hop a plane to visit my family. Here are the highlights...


Jessica picked me up from the airport and we headed to my parents' house in Guymon, OK. The next day we all headed to Colorado to visit my Grandpa and Freida! We had a really good visit. That night, Jessica and I went out on the town in Pueblo (as much "on the town" that can actually happen in Pueblo!) and spent the evening with our good friend Brenda.







Saturday we headed to the Great Sand Dunes. This is a place we used to go a lot as kids so it was a lot of fun to take my niece and nephew. The sand was SOOO hot!





Sunday after church, Jessica took me back to Oklahoma City to meet Amanda. We went back to Stillwater for a couple days and I got to meet Casen for the first time! He loved his Aunt April I think! Amanda and I had a great time catching up and just relaxing!









Wednesday was Alison's 8th birthday and my brother and sister-in-law and kids came down also. My entire immediate family hasn't been together in years. We had a really good visit! It was a lot of fun to watch the cousins play!