After leaving the golden eagle's nest

Wow. It has been almost two months since graduation and time has really flown by. I have a bunch of news updates which I don't feel like spending a paragraph on each, so bullet form will have to do.

* I got an A on my thesis. I remember at the piano party, my eyes were glazed over because I had a final that morning and the thesis was submitted the week before. The paper itself was 67 pages and compiled with all the formalities of title pages, contents, etc. = 76 pages. I remember telling myself at the beginning of this writing process that I wanted the entire paper from front to back cover to be 35 pages. Obviously, I went over that limit. The title of the work is: Recasting the Spirit of Early Music: An Analysis and Discussion of Arvo Part's Te Deum and Magnificat. It's dedicated to Jenn, my late grandmother (concert pianist), Dr. Leventhal, and my parents. It also features a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote on the dedication page. "Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

* I now have my senior ring with the correct finish; however, the engraving of "Wimbo" in the inside is still incorrect. For some reason, engravers at Balfour think a cursive lowercase "m" has two humps. It actually has three, and I wrote it out on the paper in cursive to show them what it looked like. Dost thou comprehend? Fat chance.

* Yesterday, I received my official unconditional offer which means that they know I have graduated from USM with a legit degree and therefore, I am clear to pursue my masters studies. There are two tracks I can take at Bangor. The Standard track means I would be evenly trained in Musicology and Historical Performance (40 credits each) and the Special track gives more emphasis to Performance (60 credits) and Musicology only has 20. I'm thinking I may choose the Standard track, but I will want to hear my professors' advice first.

* Summer jobs - Well, I was enjoying teaching music at Blessed Beginnings (enjoyed the kids, not the boss), but Wednesday, I was laid off because the boss is running out of money; however, I am supposed to give her a call when I come back from Europe in late July. I am also working at Dairy Queen. Friends of the family own the restaurant. It was pretty darn hard at first. Customers can be major idiots sometimes, but there are some who are really sweet.

* I am crocheting again. Currently, I am working on a huge afghan for Doc. Now, this originally was a multicolored (single skein) ripple afghan. Advice: never do a ripple with a single skein. You will get bored very easily. So, I told her that I was going to unravel it, which I did, and I bought 9 more skeins (jewel tones, light to dark) in teal, purple, and rose. I am now crocheting her a giant granny square afghan. Also, I am working on two baby afghans - one for my goddaughter and the other for my godson. Trinity's is purple, pink, yellow, and white. Timmy's is blue, multi blue, and white. These are the same style as Doc's.

* I am expecting a niece, Emma, around the time I leave for Bangor!

* Ok, I love the film "Miss Potter." Some of you may know that I used to write a good bit of stories. Well, someday, I will gather the courage and send them off to large publishing houses. JK Rowling got rejected many a time before Harry Potter was published. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!

* Ed Hafer has finally heard Carillon! When Mom and I went to Hattiesburg to collect references for a scholarship, she made him put on my headphones and listen to Fantasy on King's Weston. So I am going to make him 2 Carillon cd's (along with M&M cookies).

* Well, I am off to Wales in September, and off to Hattiesburg today. Carillon is rehearsing for 3 days (staying at Doc's place, cat-sitting) and then we fly to Prague and Vienna for the 2008 European Handbell Festival!

Auf Wiedersehen!