All Packed and Ready to Go!

As soon as I got my suitcase out to pack, this is what Thomas did...



Little does he know he's going with me. He hates the car..pray for us!

Grading...

So I have to admit that, of all the tasks that go into teaching a college class, grading research papers is among my least favorite. But every once in awhile something will be written that makes me laugh, think, or teach me something I didn't know. I was reading a research paper on copyright laws and this is the closing paragraph:

"Music, like everything else on this planet, is an ever evolving thing. Also, as science as science has showed us, evolution is a very natural process that when controlled by man, has devastating consequences. Copyright laws are an example of man’s desire to control a natural process. Not only are the actions of man controlled by countless other laws, but now man’s most intrinsic right, the right to express himself/herself is slowly being taken away. If music can not evolve, then the future of music is in jeopardy. Music will not be able to change with culture and society and therefore, new cultures and societies will have no music to call their own. It is safe to assume that like music, other forms of creative art will follow suit. The Dark Ages will repeat themselves."

Who knew that copyright laws will cause the Dark Ages to repeat themselves!? I sure didn't. I got a good chuckle so I thought you might too. Hey, at least this student is passionate about their paper topic!

My Research Study...

So yesterday I taught my last class for the semester (beside the final) and I'm explaining to the class that I don't have all their papers graded because, let's face it I'm a grad student and I had my own paper due today, and one says, "oh, what was your paper on?" and I say, "It's a research study on the integration of music history into the elementary general music classroom." and her response is, "oh...so it's boring?"

Ha! It's not boring to me! And the funny thing is she said it like she felt sorry for me. I thought it was noteworthy.

A Christmas Poem

My friend Shelley posted this poem and I thought it was sweet. I have such a deep appreciation for our military. I hope you do too!

Christmas Poem

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
'SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY! COUNTRY, MY CORPS.'

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, 'CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.'

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,!
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.'

-Written by a marine

Tag

8 things about me

8 shows I watch:
1. Project Runway
2. The Office
3. Scrubs
4. Samantha Who
5. Law and Order
6. The Biggest Loser
7. The Amazing Race
8. Big Bang Theory

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. Chipotle
2. Applebee's
3. Arby's
4. Wendy's (love their side Caesar salads)
5. Taco Bell
6. Italian Restaurants
7. Anything Mexican
8. Anywhere with a good pizza

8 Things that happened today:
1. Watched Navy/Army Football game
2. Worked on my research article (due next week)
3. Wrote more of my book (98 pages down a minimum of 20 more to go)
4. Cuddled with my sweet cat Thomas
5. Ate a bagel
6. Practiced guitar
7. Wrapped Christmas presents
8. Got a massage

8 Things I look forward to:
1. Seeing Ben again
2. Christmas celebration with my family
3. The end of the semester (2 weeks and counting)
4. Seeing the Nichols in AZ after Christmas
5. Completing my Ph.D. (3 years and counting)
6. Going to Colorado.
7. A fresh start to a new semester
8. Finish writing book

8 Things I wish for:
1. Easier class loads
2. More time with Ben
3. Ben not leaving for 8 months!
4. More time with all my sweet nieces and nephews
5. Quieter neighbors
6. Peace of mind
7. Cable
8. A good job after this silly Ph.D

8 People I tag:
1. Amanda
2. Jessica
3. Tamra
4. April
5. Jamie
6. Lisa
7. Karessa
8.

My Very Own Guitar Heroes...

So I've almost made it through my first semester of undergraduate teaching and I LOVE it! I teach a music fundamentals class that focuses on performance so we have learned recorder, guitar, bells, and singing. I am proud to say I've managed to teach a class of 27 students the fundamentals of guitar without ever picking one up in class (if that's not talent, I don't know what is)!! I've actually gotten alright at the guitar myself through my home practice/jam sessions. Ha!
Each student had to pick a song and perform it for me for a test grade. They did the same with the recorder (which was painful for my ears!). I was pretty impressed by the guitar tests. Who knew I could teach them to play the guitar? Most of them are much better than I am!

Since they got to choose their own songs, I had quite a variety to listen to from Jesus Loves Me to Bingo to John Mayer and Taylor Swift and of course a good amount of The Beatles!

This week, we had an all out jam session on piano, bells, guitar and recorders! We were the coolest band ever! We played Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D, and some of the classic Christmas songs like "Jingle Bells" and "Jolly Old St. Nicholas." My students rock!

Don't you wish you had me for a teacher in college!? Ha!