Band Camp

I just returned home from the premiere of this season's field show. The kids did an awesome job! They accomplished learning the entire opener. For those of you who are new to the marching band realm, a field show usually consists of three songs, music and drill (the pictures that are formed on the field). During band camp, you have two weeks to teach all the rookie members how to march, read drill, and the process of putting what's on paper out on a football field. You also have to refresh the veteran members' minds of the same stuff. I was amazed all week at how hard these kids worked--they are a whole new band. I am so excited about this season and can't wait to see which of the kids end up in my class this year. I'll put some pictures up as soon as I get some good ones.

P.S. Teachers go back to school in three days. AHHHH!!!

The Great Harry Potter Disappointment

For the past month or so I've been plodding through the fifth Harry Potter book. I bought it two years ago when it first came out, but I've been putting off reading it because of its daunting 870 pages--it's not a problem to read, in fact it is an easy read, but in my mind I can read some many other books in the same amount of time. Anyway, I've been trying to get through this book so that I can read the sixth book which came out last week.

I went out of town this weekend, giving me an opportunity to finish the book. Sunday night, as we pulled into Orlando, I finally finished book #5.

Even though I have been very excited to read the 6th book, I decided to put it off until after the school year began so that I can get some reading for school completed. Great plan right? WRONG! I've had to dodge people talking about the surprise ending so that it's not ruined for me. Well, I returned to band camp yesterday. I noticed that the drumline all had home-made shirts on so I began reading the writing. Someone warned me that if I haven't gotten to the end of the book, don't read the drumline's t-shirts. Ok, easy enough...just steer clear of the drumline. Rehearsal ends, the band director starts talking to the band right before dismisal. The next thing I know, he is reading the drumline's t-shirts outloud over the microphone, completely ruining the end of the book for everyone who has not gotten there yet!!

Even though I am a bit peeved, I must say that was quite a stunt. Go Drumline!

Dumb Athletes

So I was sitting here watching Good Morning America and there was an interview with Sheryl Crow about Lance Armstrong as he approaches the end of his seventh Tour de France. They showed a clip of Mr. Armstrong talking about something, I wasn't really paying attention. Then I heard him say, "It makes it funner." I thought he was joking so I picked up my head to watch and perked my ears up to listen more closely. He repeated it again, "Yeah, it makes it funner." WOW!

OUCH

On Sunday morning, I was leaving my house, going to church. It was roughly 7:00 am. Phil was walking behind me, and we were coming down the stairs outside of my apartment. All of a sudden, I slipped down the last three stairs and landed flat on my back and hit my head! It sounds funny but these were concrete stairs! The first thing that came to mind, was, "OMG, did I break a rib?" Phil rushed down to help me up because I couldn't stand up. It took me a little while to catch my bearings (and my breath), and eventually I was able to stand up straight again. I was running late and really needed to get to church (I was CAD). Phil walked me to my car, helped me in (because I couldn't really move well), and then went back to my apartment to get some Aleeve (he knew I would need it soon because of the impact of my skull on the stairs). Somehow I made it to church, but it was very painful. I was not in the best of spirits but I got through both services.

Finally church was over and I was able to go home to rest. I got changed and sat down to relax and eat lunch. Fatigue (and pain) started setting in and I needed a nap. Instead of taking a nap, Melanie and Phil convinced me to let Phil take me to the doctor to get my back checked out. I was very hesitant because I am quickly running out of dinero and there is still one month until my next paycheck. I gave in and let Phil drive me to the doctor. We sat there for an hour and paid $35.00 just so that the doctor could tell me that I am fine. She also said that I will swell and bruise, and Monday would be miserable for me. Well, Monday was ok, Tuesday was miserable, and today I am almost back to myself.

Lesson: Uhhhh...shave every morning because you never know when you're going to need to go to the doctor?

Thank You

I want to thank everyone who made my birthday week such an enjoyable time. Thank you Tracey for the Chillers experience. Thanks Phil for taking me to the AMAZING Marc Broussard concert. A HUGE thanks to Melanie for hosting such an awesome birthday party. Thank you to everyone who joined me at one of the festivites and thanks for the gifts.

Another year closer to 30... *SIGH*

SixSteps Records Update

Hey Everyone! I realize that it's been a while since I've touched bases regarding SixSteps Records, and I have so much to share with you:

Cds:
Matt Redman's new cd, Blessed Be Your Name: The Songs of Matt Redman Vol 1, will release on July 19th. I am listening to it right now and it is very good. It is live recording from the Facedown Songwriter's Conference. It contains many of the songs that have become very popular over the past decade, including The Heart of Worship, Let Everything That Has Breath, and Blessed Be Your Name. It is also an enhanced cd containing a live performance of The Heart of Worship, an interview with Matt, and links to Matt's and the SixSteps web sites.
The David Crowder * Band will release their next cd, A Collision, on September 27th. As soon as I have more info, I'll send it your way.
Passion: How Great Is Our God (Cd and DVD) was released in April, if you haven't already picked it up. If you want to hear samples from the cd, follow this link: http://ecards.emicmg.com/passion05
Chris Tomlin's Arriving won the Dove Award for Worship Album of the Year and currently has two #1 singles.

Books:
Louie Giglio's latest book, I am not but i know I AM, is currently in stores. It is "the profound message of man's little story in the midst of God's grand story. A challenge to embrace your tiny role in the eternal story of God." I haven't read it yet, but I am looking at it right now and it seems pretty interesting and an easy read. I'll let you know how it is when I am done.
Matt and Beth Redman have teamed up to write their book Blessed Be Your Name: Worshipping God on the Road Marked with Suffering. It is about responding to Jesus with worship when we are surrounded by storms that cause suffering. Again, I haven't read it but it sounds pretty inspiring.

Tours:
I am really excited about these!! Passion and Sixsteps present the Indescribable Tour with Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and Louie Giglio and A Collision Tour with the David Crowder * Band with special guests Robbie Seay and Shane & Shane. Both of these tours will begin in the fall so keep watching for dates and upcoming promotion details. You can also be watching out for dates on both Chris and David's web sites.
For those of you living near or in Orlando, Chris Tomlin will be performing at Universal Studio's Rock the Universe.

I guess that's it for now. I'll do my best to let you know of anything new coming up. Feel free to email me any comments or questions you have. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Be Blessed!!

http://www.sixstepsrecords.com/
http://www.davidcrowderband.com/
http://www.christomlin.com/2004/default.htm
http://www.mattredman.com/
http://www.charliehall.com/flash.php
http://www.watermark-online.com/

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

TODAY is my 28th Birthday. And for those of you who know me very well, you know that my birthday stretches out across a three week time period (the week before, the week of, and the week after my birthday). I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!! I sing happy birthday to every single one of my students--I tell them it's their day, they should celebrate it. That's how I feel--it is your very own day.

Here is the plan for the week:
July 13th: We're heading Downtown (Chillers, Wall Street, etc...) for anyone who can keep up. We're dressing up! Call the cell for details.
July 15th: Mark Broussard concert at the House of Blues
July 16th: We're having a luau. Details are at: http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?event=OCOAAXNHHMQDTFGHEPCL

This week will be nothing but fun because my school responsibilites begin on Monday, July 18th. This is my last hurrah (as Melanie so eloquently put it). Let's make it a good one!!!

My 28th Birthday Wishlist (not in any specific order)

• Anything UCF for my car or classroom
• A new NIV study Bible (my current one was a gift from Adam)
• Finding Neverland and Napolean Dynamite on DVD
• Any book by Gregory Maguire (except Wicked and Lost)
• The newest Rascal Flatts cd, Feels Like Today
• The newest Passion cd, How Great Is Our God
• The newest Matt Redman cd, Facedown
• The new Jason Mraz cd (releases July 26th)

You know you love my sense of humor!!! wink, wink!!!

Happy Independence Day

Independence Day is such a happy day. It's one of those days where ywe think about the country in which we live and thank God for the freedoms we have.

I had a good Independence Day. I was able to sleep in for the first time all summer, had breakfast with Phil, and was lazy around the house for a few hours. Early in the evening, Phil and I headed to the heart of Orlando...Lake Eola. Phil was playing with the Orlando Concert Band on the stage right on the lake. They did a good job, considering the venue. Then we got front row seats for the fireworks display. The weather was awesome until the fireworks started--once that first set of fireworks went off, so did the rain. It wasn't too bad though. The advertisements for the day's events said that this would be the "biggest fireworks display over Central Florida." They lied! It was pretty boring until the finale. You would think living in a city inundated with tourist attractions and theme parks, there would be a better chance of an outstanding fireworks display-NOPE! We saw better fireworks at the Magic Kingdom during Spring Break.

After sitting in traffic for a surprisingly short amount of time, we headed over to Melanie's for a Phase 10 game. Phil and I worked as a team, and were dealt in a few hands behind everyone else. We quickly caught up and were even winning for a few hands. The victor of the evening was Katie. She was funny as she claimed victory at three o'clock in the morning. She reminded us that this is the first time she has won in a few years, even after teaching all of us "bitches" how to play the game. Katie, I challenge you to a rematch next week as the opening event to the birthday galla!! ;-)

Well, that's about it. I hope everyone had a fun and safe 4th of July. Be sure to stay tuned for an update on the birthday week events. I'll talk to you soon.

Happy Independence Day! Lake Eola, 2005

The Orlando Concert Band
Lake Eola, July 4th, 2005

SUMMER SCHOOL....

IS OVER!!!! Happy happy!! Joy, joy!! I am soooo happy!!! Woohoo!! No more 9th graders to deal with--no more grading--no more planning!!!

Can you tell I'm just a little happy? :-)

(Only 4 more weeks until school starts so then all of this can begin again.)