Life is good

Things are great with Joe. I am so glad we found each other. We make a really great team.

Yesterday, I was told that my job at Border's is over after today. It will be nice to just spend time at home until school starts. After school starts, I think I will get a job on campus or similar in order to have some mad money of my own. Well, really, to pay bills that I don't feel comfortable dropping into the household budget.

Tonight we are going to my Dad's for New Year's Eve. My sister and her family will be there. Tomorrow, my step-brother and his family will arrive.

It will be nice to just relax and spend time with the people I love. Joe has today and tomorrow off, which is very rare. I finally feel like a grown up and part of a family of my own. I've never felt that with anyone I dated before. I really do feel like Joe and I are a very complimentary combination. Yay Us!

I feel shitty... oh so shitty....

I totally screwed up. I wasn't thinking and I made a terrible mistake and lost someone's trust. I take total responsibility for what I did, and they have every right to be angry. I just hope that with time and through my actions this is salvagable.

The Legend of Bluebeard

Something reminded me of this story this week...

I always wondered about this story. In it, a woman is to be punished for her curiosity but is saved by her family. Her husband, is painted as the fiend. What is the moral of the story, though? Curiousity is healthy? Don't trust your husband? Don't "obey" your husband? What do you think?

The Legend of Bluebeard

ONCE UPON A TIME, there was a wealthy man who owned a grand estate. His home was filled with the finest riches and he himself was a grand specimen of man. But the man was cursed with a blue beard that made his visage so terrible that there was not a woman or a girl who
upon seeing him would not flee with fright.

One of his neighbors, a widow, had two beautiful daughters. Bluebeard asked for the hand of one in marriage and left it up to the widow to choose. Neither of the girls wanted to marry Bluebeard. One of the things that most frightened the young women was that Bluebeard had taken seven wives before this and no one knew what had happened to
them.

To sway them, Bluebeard invited the family to his estate in the country so that they could come to know him and to love him. They remained in his home for a week and a day and everyone spent the visit in enjoyable pastimes. Finally, Fatima, the younger and more beautiful of the two daughters, began to find that Bluebeard was not so terrifying. As soon as they returned to the city, Bluebeard and Fatima were wed.

Soon, Bluebeard told his wife that he had an important business trip. He suggested she leave the city and return to the country estate with her sister. "Here," said Bluebeard, handing her keys to the estate. "This is the key to my safe, where I have stored my gold and my precious stones. And here is a key that opens every room in the estate.

"But this small key," Bluebeard said, his face suddenly turning stern, "is the key to the closet at the end of the basement. Open any room you wish, but do not venture into the basement and unlock that closet." The
husband drew his wife near to him, so close she could feel the bristles
of his blue beard. "If you should ever open it," he said. "Then you shall feel my wrath." Fatima promised to obey this simple wish. They embraced, and Bluebeard left.

The dust from his carriage wheels was barely settled when, with the curiosity that comes with youth, Fatima took the key and rushed to the basement, determined to find what lay behind the closet door. Seized with curiosity, she reached the basement and crossed to the imposing
cabinet. It was not a piece of furniture in the usual sense, but was a door built into the stone wall of the cellar, thick as a tree trunk and sturdy as a bull.

Fatima stood there in front of the door for some time, thinking about the words her husband had left with her. But Fatima was too curious and the temptation that filled her head was stronger even than her fear of Bluebeard. She took the small key and with trembling hand opened the door.

At first she could not see anything. But soon her eyes began to adjust to the dim light and she was able to see the contents of this terrible place. The room was like an abattoir; the floor was awash in curdled blood and in the blood lay the bodies of the seven wives of Bluebeard. Their throats had been cut from ear to ear.

Stunned, Fatima dropped the key into the blood on the floor. When she regained her senses, she recovered the key and quickly left the room, fleeing as though Bluebeard himself pursued her. Fatima saw the key was stained with blood and tried to clean it. But the key was a magic key and it would not be cleansed. No matter how hard she wiped, the blood did not go away. She washed it in bleach, but the stains would not fade. She scrubbed it with the roughest brush from the kitchen, but still the blemish remained on the key. Even sandstone would not remove the horrible taint.

As the fates would have it, Bluebeard returned from his voyage that evening, having learned that his business affair had been resolved in his favor. With great joy he returned to his beautiful wife.

Fatima was pale with fear as Bluebeard entered their rooms and she
shivered as he took her hands. "Why do you tremble at my touch, madam?" the treacherous husband asked. "My lord, it is not fear, but gladness," Fatima replied. "I have missed you so that my heart was filled
with the cold of longing. But now that you are returned to me, I quiver with joy."

"I see," said the murderous Bluebeard. "And have you my keys?" "Why yes, husband." "I am going down to warm myself by the fire. Bring them to me there," said Bluebeard, leaving poor Fatima alone in her chamber.

In desperation, she hid the magic key in among her clothes and went to return the others to her husband. "Tell me, my beloved. Why is the key to the basement cabinet not with the others?" He asked. "My Lord, it must be there," poor Fatima avowed, knowing her words to be false. "Wife! It is not here. Fetch it for me, now." Bluebeard's voice rose in anger. Fatima left the hall and returned to her chambers, taking the key from whence she had hidden it. "Why," he asked in a voice that chilled her to her bones. "Why is there blood on this key?" "I do not know anything of it!" cried the girl, paler than death. "You do not know anything of it," Bluebeard roared, taking his wife by the wrist. "But I know it well! You wanted to enter the cabinet. Well then, madam, you will enter there and take your place with the ladies that you saw there!" Fatima threw herself at the feet of the perfidious Bluebeard and cried out for forgiveness.

Her pleas should have softened a rock. But Bluebeard had a heart harder than stone.

"Give me a little time to make my peace with God, since it is necessary that I die," she begged."I give you a quarter hour, but no more," he said, leaving her in her chamber.

Fatima called to her sister, Anne. "I pray you, go to the top of the tower, to see whether our brothers come; they promised to visit me, and if you see them, make signs to them to hasten," said poor Fatima. Soon Bluebeard called her to come down to him and accept her fate.

"Anne, my sister, don't you see anything coming?" Fatima pleaded to her
sister. "I see," answered Anne, "two riders who are coming this way, but they are still far away." "God be praised," wept Fatima. "They are my brothers. Tell them to hasten."

Now Bluebeard cried out in a voice loud enough to shake the entire house and Fatima was left with no other course but to go down to
him. Outside the house, Fatima again threw herself to the ground.

"That does not serve you well, woman," growled the man as he pulled her up by her hair. "It is necessary that you die."

His hand came down to slice, but before the blade touched her alabaster throat, the gate to the chateau opened. Bluebeard saw two riders approaching with swords in hand. The coward recognized them as his wife's brothers and he dropped his wife and fled for his life. But
the brothers continued to chase him and upon catching him, ran him through with their swords and left him for dead.

When they returned to their sister, she was near death, but with the help of their sister Anne, they revived fair Fatima. It turned out that Bluebeard had no heirs, so his fortune was left to Fatima. She used some of it to make a dowry for her sister, Anne, who married a man she had loved for a long time. Fatima used another part to reward her
brothers, and the rest she kept for herself.

Fatima later married a strong, good man, and in time, they filled the estate with children, the fiend Bluebeard was soon forgotten and they all lived happily ever after.

"La Barbe bleue", from Contes de ma mère l'oyeTales
of Mother Goose By Charles Perrault (1697). Translated by Mark C. Gribben

I found several "morals" to the story on the internet. These are from Pitt.edu:

Moral: Curiosity, in spite of its appeal, often leads to deep regret. To the displeasure of many a maiden, its enjoyment is short lived. Once satisfied, it ceases to exist, and always costs dearly.

Another moral: Apply logic to this grim story, and you will ascertain that it took place many years ago. No husband of our age would be so terrible as to demand the impossible of his wife, nor would he be such a jealous malcontent. For, whatever the color of her husband's beard, the wife of today will let him know who the master is.

And from umich.edu:

The first moral expresses the idea that a maiden's curiosity will cost her.

The second moral deals with modern women showing their husbands who’s really
the master.

I am thinking that in my own personal experience.... the first lessons of each group are the one's I've had to learn.

3. Volunteer for Big Brothers/Big Sisters

Progress report on 101 Things to do in 1001 Days

I received the paperwork for Big Brothers/Big Sisters and am going to an orientation meeting in the middle of January.

1. Arrange and attend a 4 week immersion program for French Language.

Progress Report on 101 things to do in 1001 days!

I have sent in my deposit and bought my plane ticket. I will attend the immersion trip on May1-May30, 2005!

New Haircut

Tonight I went to Douglas J Aveda Institute and got a haircut from Jill....

I think it looks great, don't you?

Sometimes you feel like a nut

Does anyone else do this? When a person starts to tell me something, in my mind, I jump ahead and start anticipating how I can a) Fix the problem b) Formulate a fantastic answer c) Plan a strategy to complete whatever task is being asked of me. Often, I will start answering the question before the person is finished asking it. I have this incredible need to be efficient and fantastic. I think I touched on the whole perfection thing during my OA work, (did you see my grades this semester?) but I certainly think there is more work to do. The whole "doing a good job" thing only seems to apply when I am doing something for someone else. Often, I will just "that'll do" when it comes to doing things for myself. For some reason, the biggest crime I feel I can commit is being selfish. However, if I don't look out for myself and take care of myself, who else can/will?

All the sudden I am verrrry tired. I could practically fall asleep right here at my desk. Nope.. can't do that, because now I have to run to the bathroom... darn effects of drinking water like you are supposed to!

Fall Semester Final Grades

Appl Music Voice
B+

University Choir
A

Functional Piano
A


American Government
A-

French Level 2
A

GPA this semester: 3.8

Quebec City, here I come!

It's official! I sent in my deposit to go to Quebec City for a 4 week immersion class in French. I am sooo excited. If I feel like paying for the credits, it will count for one of my french classes. However, I think I should continue in the program at Eastern and just count this as extra.

I have having a fun little time listening to Launch Cast on yahoo while I am at work. I love how you can rate the songs and it will tailor the playlist to the things you like. Fun Fun. Right now.. listening to "Work It" by Missy Elliot... bouncing around in my chair here in my cube. Hee hee.

Anyway.. back to the French thing...

I will be there from May 2- May 30! I also noticed something really cool on their site. They can coordinate so that you can work in France. It looks so interesting. I wonder if that's something I could do sometime during the summer or similiar. I've always wanted to live/work in France. Here is the link. WORK IN FRANCE

Today I took my last exam of the semester - yahooooo-eeee

Keep your fingers crossed for ALL A's!!!

101 things to do in 1001 Days

I was browsing blogs today and saw a cool one about 101 things to do in 1001 days. I think I will do something similiar. Mine will start on January 1. Some of these things will be obvious as I've already posted about them, but it feels good to check things off a list, doesn't it? If I do any of these things before the new year, I must add an item to replace it.

1. Arrange and attend a 4 week immersion program for French Language.
2. Write 3 letters of thanks relating to a good product or customer service .
3. Volunteer for Big Brothers/Big Sisters
4. Take a picture of Joe and I together
5. Pay off Dell account (and stop buying more computer stuff with it!)
6. Visit Mackinaw Island
7. Go 48 hours without using a computer
8. Go for a week without drinking diet coke
9. Learn to play something "Mozart" on the piano
10. Buy Carmina Burana sheet music and learn Soprano solo and chorus parts
11. Learn Spanish
12. Organize and make payment plans re: medical bills
13. Loose 25 pounds
14. See Spamalot in Chicago
15. Visit a beach
16. Get a massage
17. Crochet a blanket for Samara
18. Plan a nice dinnner and make it for Joe - complete w/ tablecloth, napkins, etc...
19. Play Pictionary with Dad, Sue, Joe
20. Visit Manhatten w/ Joe
21. Go to a wine tasting
22. Properly hook up our home/wireless network
23. Take the train somewhere
24. Clean out my car 100%, including the box of random crap in the trunk.
25. Grow my hair to my shoulders at least
26. Take vitamins every morning for a month
27. Organize clost
28. Organize spare room
29. Floss daily for a week
30. Practice violin once a week for a month
31. Learn yoga exercise to do before school each day and do so everyTuesday and Thursday of winter semester (or more)
32. Go to see a stand-up comedian live
33. Go to the DIA, alone, and take my time
34. Go to karaoke
35. Use the library instead of buying a book
36. Send my parents flowers for no reason
37. Learn how to copy DVDs at home (I think Joe has a burner, if not... get one)
38. Try lobster
39. Send postcards to people even if not on vacation
40. Add family stories to Family Tree
41. Leave secret love notes every day for a week
42. Learn how to drive a motorcyle
43. Make all A's in my winter classes
44. No TV for 24 hours
45. Make a scrapbook out of European travel items (maybe get Sue's help)
46. Make one new dessert recipe each month
47. Donate blood
48. Get a facial
49. Go to church - any church
50. Kiss Joe at midnight on New Year's Eve 2005 (and 2006, and 2007)
51. Arrange and attend a 4 week Spanish Language Immersion trip
52. Get Engaged
53. Get Married
54. Graduate College
55. Get a teaching job
56. Get towels, a bathmat and rug for the bathroom
57. Bake bread from scratch
58. Blog everyday for a month
59. Meet Joe's family
60. Go canoeing
61. Get a new suitcase
62. Change the address on my drivers license
63. Dance around my living room naked
64. Give someone a piggyback ride or vice versa
65. Quit my job
66. Start quilting
67. Go to Hawaii
68. Make Chocolate Chip Pancakes
69. Have chocolate fondue with strawberries, pineapple, apples with champagne for dinner
70. Go to the Yellow Pages and pick the seventh restaurant - eat the seventh entree and order the seventh dessert
71. Times Square on New Year's Eve
72. Document all these tasks with my digital camera
73. Learn how to change my car's oil and do it myself
74. Go to the Renaissance Festival or the Shakespere Festival
75. See Little Shop Of Horrors at the Fischer Theatre in June 2005
76. Visit Greenfield Village
77. Learn to meditate
78. Get a nice fitted black dress for all needs, knee length

Looking at people from the cab of a freightliner

227

Should I be happy or sad that there hasn't really been much to write about recently? Any drama that has gone on in my life is of the private sort that I am glad has been dealt with already. (Growing pains within co-habitation and relationship)

The other day, Joe and I took my Dad with us in the big tanker. Talk about memories! My Dad was a truck driver while I was growing up and it was really cool to sit on the bunk and hang out with him. Dad was like a kid in a candy store. I know he really misses driving truck. This little story does lead me to a point of contention I have with people. When I tell people that my new boyfriend drives a truck, I get a look from many as if I must be dating some kind of low life. Why is it that truckers have this reputation? My father is the most decent man I've known in my life, as well as my grandfather who was a farmer and owned a trucking company. I've always known them to be good, upstanding and morally strong people. I suppose one bad apple and all that jazz. I have to admit... I come from a family that gets many double takes.

For example: My Grandma Moore owns a motorcycle shop. (Cycle Moore - Interlochen, MI) My grandfather is one of the best mechanics in Michigan. I grew up helping at swap meets and and biker round ups. These days, it's posh to have a Harley. When I was growing up, I remember telling someone about my Grandma and they would always ask: "How many tattoos does she have?" incidentally, this repectable, college educated, perpetual girl scout has 3 tattoos while my Grandma still has none!

My family has had it's fair share of unwanted newspaper coverage as well. Last year, a member of my immediate family got involved in one of those Nigerian Internet Scams. They had to go to jail for a while and then were on house arrest via phone tether. It was all over the news in their town.

If anything, my family is colorful and makes for good times when we get together. Remind me to tell you some of the standards about my Dad sometime!

Sweet escape

227
Breakfast - BEC buscuit/hashbrowns Lunch - Salad and a Twix

Whoo hoo... only a week and 2 exams left of this semester!!


This way out....
.
(at least until January 6)

Happy Birthday John Duffy Dunn!

227
breakfast - BEC biscuit and hashbrowns, Lunch - sandwich, doritos and Reeses

It's my Dad's birthday and Joe and I are going to visit my Dad tonight after I get off work. Last night was my choir concert, and I feel it went very well. I loved looking out into the audience and seeing Joe there. I got a little nervous when I was standing at the front of the stage, but Joe said he couldn't hear me over everyone else... so no need to worry. :)

OK.. lots of work to do

Crunch

228
Breakfast - Life Cereal Lunch - Beef Fried Rice and Egg Drop Soup Dinner - Leftover Chinese from lunch

Ohhh my abs hurt! I went to Jazzercise on Wednesday and Thursday! Hooray! It made me feel a great deal better. I've been in a big fat funk lately. Exercise really does help.

Ugh

Yesterday, of course, I didn't get a chance to post when I could have written
228

But nooooo today I have to write 231... damn delicious meatballs.

Sugar and Spice...

My new niece arrived November 19th at 3:01PM! Here are pictures proudly taken by her Grandma Sue:

Samara Rose Priest


Proud Brother, Michael and Samara

Je suis un porcelet

230
Breakfast: Peanut Butter Wafer, 6oz yogurt Lunch: Big salad

Ugh I am back in the land of 230. This isn't going to do.

Back in the Saddle againnnnnnn

OK.. I MUST GET MY BUTT BACK IN GEAR!

Good pep talk, Tess... way to go.

First things first. Food diary - MUST WRITE DOWN WHAT I EAT!! Guidelines to my food life:

• 3 meals a day
• Nothing in between
• No Fast Food

See? It's not that hard!! There's no quantities, no real restrictions... it worked so well for me alllllll year.... so, regardless of the quality of food, which has been horrendous lately, (nutrition-wise and diet-wise, certainly not taste-wise) here is today's entry:

Breakfast -(cringe) peanut butter wafers (2 packs) and water Lunch: 3 slices of Spicy Mediterranean Pizza, Dinner: Tacos (2 soft, 1 hard and the remains of the cottage cheese.)

Personally, I hated writing that... because I know that 2 packs of those wafers are well over 800 calories and that I shouldn't eat again the rest of the day. Guess what... I am having leftover pizza for lunch! Why? I am out of control. So... to get back on track, I can't give myself a hard time about what I am eating during my meals and just get back to eating set meals in the first place. I have been snacking a great deal lately. Like my old boss, Dean, always told me: "The Devil is in the Details." All these little treats do not satisfy any hunger and I forget them as soon as I eat them. I am just not a person who can snack. Period. I MUST get back on a schedule. My health depends on it.

Turning Frenchinese

.

I was talking to my French professor about my aspirations to become a french professor myself. He recommended that I attend an immersion program in France or Montreal. I looked up programs and was really excited to find some cool places and the prices aren't terrible. I would live with a host family and get 4 lessons a day. I think I would prefer to take the 4 week course rather than the 2 week one. Even better, I have enough frequent flier miles to cover the airfare. I have enough in savings to cover the cost, but I am not sure when I would go. This is the link to the site:

Study Abroad in Montreal School is over Winter Semester on 4/26/05. There is a session that starts on May 9th and costs $2160 for 4 weeks plus airfare. This includes materials and accomodations with a host family with half board. I may even have enough left of my student loan money to swing it for spring semester. :)

Other Options...

Lausanne Switzerland 4 weeks including the same things : $2490

Paris: $2730

Strausbourg: $2210

Since I am also planning to minor in Spanish, I looked up Costa Rica. What a bargain!

Costa Rica: $1480 Of course, there are several more options for Spanish immersion programs than for French.

oooh online quizzes mmmmmm

Oh how I enjoy the nearly tasty goodness of online quizzes... and how neatly do they fill my blog and make it look like I have posted something:

French Guard
I'm French! Why do think I have this outrageous
accent, you silly king-a?!


What Monty Python Character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I AM 9% WHITE TRASH! I, my friend, have class. I am so not white trash. . I am more than likely Democrat, and my place is neat, and there is a good chance I may never drink wine from a box. Take the WHITE TRASH test at Fuali.com

I AM 21% ASSHOLE/BITCH! I am not an asshole or a bitch, more like an asshole and bitch target. I have no backbone, and fold at even a slightly insincere look. I need to stop crying, I am such a wuss. Take the ASSHOLE/BITCH test at Fuali.com

I AM 33% HIPPIE! I need to step away from the tie-dye. I smell too good to be a hippie and my dad is probably a cop. Being a hippie is not a fashion craze, man. It was a way of life, in the 60’s, man. Take the HIPPIE test at Fuali.com

I AM 42% INTERNET ADDICT! I could go either way. Deep into the madness of nights filled with coding CGI-Scripts and online role playing games, or I could become a normal user. Good luck! Take the INTERNET ADDICT test at Fuali.com

I AM 39% EVIL GENIUS! I want to be evil. I do evil things. But given the opportunity, and a darn good reason I may turn to the good side. Besides I am probably a miserable evil genius. Take the EVIL GENIUS test at Fuali.com

Registration, Yipppeee

I finally registered for next semester... nice schedule 9AM-12:15 M-F. Yay.

How sweet, my man has his own blog:

Jackie's Dad

So you think you know me....

Take this quiz and see how well you know me:

Teresa Jo Dunn Quiz

Slacker is as Slacker does

So... I haven't posted anything of substance here in ages. Why is that? Am I not my usual pensive self? I think for the first time in a long time I am just content and happy. There's nothing to really complain about. No injustices are getting my tail feathers twisted nor are the adventures of my friends and family causing a great deal of mental unrest for me.

I am, however, looking forward to the end of this semester. Going back to college full time was a big awakening in regard to what I think I can do, schedule-wise and what I really am willing to do. My sleeping/eating/resting/working/studying patterns have mutated so many times that I should probably have a third eye and some gills by now. I hate the way that my day is all gapped up between classes. Saturdays and Sundays are the best mental days for me and they are the ones when I work the most. (8 straight hours at work vs. days during the week when I only have class for a couple of hours and work for about 4.) I am an orderly kind of girl and when my shit is thrown about my planner I get antsy.

I feel guilty that I haven't had a chance to organize my crap in the apartment. I am sure the Joe doesn't think I am lazy, etc... but I would like to pitch in and help. I can tell that he is like me in that clutter makes him feel "icky."

I am pretty excited that my parents are coming over tonight for dinner. As always, I am sure that Joe will make something DELICIOUS!

Friday, I am going with Forrest to see Bill Maher, so that should be fun and interesting.

While I am bored at work today, I may be forced to post more results from ONLINE QUIZZES!

Online Quiz Addiction

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Main Type	Overall Self

Take Free Enneagram Personality Test

There's no place like home....

It seems that Michigan is certainly NOT the place for me.

According to FindYourSpot.com, my top 10 places to live are:

1. Baton Rouge, LA
2. New Orleans, LA
3. Little Rock, AR
4. Honolulu, HI
5. Las Vegas, NV
6. Sacremento, CA
7. Alexandria, LA
8. Natchitoches, LA
9. San Bernadino, CA
10. Providence, RI

Hm.... they must know I love hot weather... how did Providence RI get on there?

The road to my degree…

General Education Requirements

Area I Symbolics
and Communication

1. Eng
   121 P


2. CTAS
   121 P


3. FRNCH
   121 P


4. MATH
   110 or above. Must take placement
   test


5. IS
   215 P

Area II Science and Technology

1. Chemistry
   or Physics


2. PSY
   101 P


3. INDT
   150 P

Area III Social Sciences

1. PLSC
   112 P


2. HIST
   124 P


3. SOCL
   105 P


4. WMST
   200 P

Area IV Arts and Humanities

1. FRNCH
   341


2. FRNCH
   342


3. PHIL
   100 P


4. MUSC
   107 P

Physical Education/Graduation Requirement

Check with registrar’s office about PEGN 000 Weight
Training and PEGN 000 Badminton

Major Requirements – French Teaching

FRNCH 121 P

FRNCH 122 P

FRNCH 221

FRNCH 233

FRNCH 222

FRNCH 234

FRNCH 341

FRNCH 343

FRNCH 342

FRNCH 344

FRNCH 444

FRNCH 4**

FRNCH 443

FRNCH 4**

Professional Studies

Preadmission Phase: The Learner and the Community

• EDPS
  322 Human Development and Learning


• FETE
  201 Field Experience


• SPGN
  251 Education of Students with Exceptionalities

The following courses require formal admission to the teacher education
program

Phase I: Curriculum, Assessment and the Social Context

• SOFD
  328 Schools in a Multicultural Society


• CURR
  305 Curriculum and Methods: Secondary


• FETE
  302 Field Experience II: Secondary


• EDPS
  340 Introduction to Assessment and Evaluation

Phase II: Content Methods, Literacy and Technology

• RDNG
  311 Teaching Reading in the Secondary School


• FETE
  402 Field Experience III: Secondary


• EDMT
  330 Instructional Applications of Media and Technology


• FLAN
  411 Theory and Methods of Modern Language Teaching

Phase III: Capstone Experience

• Student
  Teaching 12 hours

Minor Requirements – Communication and Theatre Arts

CTAS 121 P

I. Communication

• CTAC
  224 Public Speaking


• CTAC
  225 Listening Behavior


• CTAC
  000 Dynamics of Communication

II. Interpretation/performance studies

• CTAO
  210 Interpretative Reading

IV. Telecommunications and Film

• CTAT
  141 Introduction to Radio-TV-Film Production

V. Theatre Arts

• CTAR
  158 Fundamentals of Acting

Electives – does not count toward degree

Applied Voice

Unused credits via transfer

ENGL 120 Basic English Composition

ENGL BASX Black Women Writers

FRNH 000 Intermediate French

FRNH 122 Beginning French (AC)

GERN 121 Beginning German

GERN 122 Beginning German

PEGN 000 Badminton – Coed

BEDU 000 MS Windows Experience

COSC 000 DOS

COSC 136 Computers for Non-Spec.

HLED 000 Stress Management

MATH 000 Math for Business

PEGN 000 Weight Training

MUSC 131 University Choir

MUSC 251 Functional Piano

Who wants to be a Tess-i-naire?

Human for Sale

Seems I am work nearly 2 million bucks... how about you?

I'm going to need a bucket...

224

Breakfast : BEC Biscuit and Hashbrowns
Lunch: Sandwich
Dinner: La Shish

Had dinner with Jill, Darren and Kevin. We had a really great time. I hadn't laughed that much in a while.

Came home and watched a documentary on the Democratic primaries and finished watching the debate. If I hear "no child left behind" one more time, I think I am going to puke.

Bonne Nuit!

Punch in the Face Game

I found this on another blog:

The Punch in the Face game
"Yesterday I saw a Ford Truck commercial featuring Toby Keith, who in the commercial actually shouted the phrase: "Bring it on!"

Upon seeing it I immediately thought up a new game for you to play with all of your friends. It's called the Punch in the Face game, and very simple, yet not as easy as you think. All you have to do is make a list of the 5 people that you'd most like to punch in the face without any consequences. They could be famous people or people you personally know.

There's only a couple additional rules.

1. You can't put George W. Bush on your list, because everyone's going to do that. It's like on wheel of fortune, for the final puzzle, they now automatically give everyone the first five letters, because everyone always picked them. So that one's a given. You are, however, free to imagine punching W in the face anyway. Go ahead.

2. None of the people on the list can be female, because hitting girls is not cool, dude. However, if you yourself are a chick, feel free. But, remember, we are talking punches here, not limp-wristed slaps.That's it, post yr list in the comments section. The best part about the Punch in the face game is that everybody wins! Good Luck!"

Hmmm who would I choose? These are in no particular order

1. Geraldo Rivera
2. Laura Schlessinger
3. Bill O'Reilly
4. Dr. Phil
5. Rush Limbaugh

Le destin de Tess

Tess Dunn

Rédaction 2

le 17 octobre, 2004

Quand je regarde dans ma boule en cristal, que’ est-ce que je vois ?

Je suis retourné à l'université pour apprendre des sujets chers de moi, comme la musique et la langue et la culture françaises. Toute ma vie, j'ai voulu être un professeur. Est-ce que je vais travailler dans un lycée ? Une Université ? Est-ce que je vais enseigner le piano ou la voix en plus Français? Naturellement, j'espère visiter l'Europe plusieurs fois dans ma vie. Peut-être je vais étudier en France avant je gradue de l'université. J'espère que je vais rencontrer quelqu'un et nous allons nous épouser. Je voudrais avoir des enfants, aussi.

C’est dur à prévoir. Vraiment, je ne sais pas que va être dans mon futur, je peux seulement espérer que ma famille et moi serons heureux. Si je continue à apprendre et passer le temps avec les bien-aimées, je serai heureuse n'importe ce que le futur se tient.

Honorary Groundhog

225
Breakfast - Yogurt
Lunch - Cheetos and a salad
Dinner - Sandwich and chips

Dang... I haven't written in ages. My life has been upside down sidways and backwards.

I have fallen off my OA wagon. I am taking things one day at a time and hope I will be back on track again soon.

I dropped 3 of my classes and changed my major to French Teaching with a minor in Communication and Theatre Arts. So... yet again, a new and improved schedule:

MONDAYS: 9AM: Counseling 10AM: French 12PM: Functional Piano 4PM: Studio 5PM:WORK

TUESDAYS: 10AM: French 3PM:Choir 7PM: Political Science

WEDNESDAYS: 10AM: French 12PM: Functional Piano 3PM:Choir

THURSDAYS: 9AM: Voice 10AM: French 3PM:Choir

FRIDAYS: 10AM: French 12PM: Functional Piano 2PM:WORK

SATURDAYS: 9AM-5PM WORK

SUNDAYS: 9AM-5PM WORK

It's icky and rainy today. I just want to crawl into a bed and sleep until spring.

Schizophrenic Cold

225
Breakfast - B/E/C biscuit&hashbrown

I have this cold where one side my face is all stuffed up and the other side is running. Gross

So I had a fantastic time last night with Marilyn, Vince and Darren. We went to see Margaret Cho at the Michigan Theatre. I laughed my ass off and even squealed a few times. (Poor Laura Bush, I will never think of your pussy the same way again... or did I ever think of it before?)

One of my new favorite phrases is "Mullet Fantasia." I will be sure to work that in somewhere in conversation sometime soon. It shouldn't be to hard given the numver of 3's I see plastered on pick-up trucks all over the state of Michigan.

Last night my Absentee Ballot was waiting for me when I got home. Today at work, I tried my best to look up all the candidates for the races of which I was unfamiliar. It was "hard work." Sometimes I think people intentionally don't put anything out there just hoping you will vote for them on accident. Many of the times, I had to go by party affiliation based on the platform, rather than the person's actual record or views. That was a bit disturbing to me.

There were 2 proposals on the ballot... one where people would have to vote if there were any changes or additions to casinos/gambling in the state of Michigan. I am all for letting people have a say, so I voted Yes. The other was not to recognize gay marriage or civil unions. If course, I voted NO for that.

Tomorrow I am supposed to be able to play a Melodic Minor scale for Keyboard Harmony. It was funny, because my Keyboard Teacher couldn't do it herself. That just goes to show that not much thinking went into the requirements for these little tests each week. I imagine that Melodic Minors are rarely used or if they are, it's so incorporated that a piano student never learns them as a seperate entity. Anyway... let me go over it so that I can try to explain to myself.

The Melodic Form of the minor scale includes raised sixth and seventh scale degrees in the ascending form. That means there are half steps between the 2nd and 3rd and 7th and 8th degrees. The descending form is the same as a Natural Minor.

OK... so starting on A....

Asc. A - B - C - D - E - F# - G# - A

Des. A - G - F - E - D - C - B - A

OK.. so the A minor scale is the only one without black keys... Let's try a harder one:

If you were to start on Bflat, you have to think, hmm... what is the relative Major scale? To find that, you go up 3 half steps. So.. Bflat to B, to C to C# Now.. how many #s are in C# Major? There are lots: FCGDEAB... so we know that the minor scale would contain those sharps

That's ok... but now, you have to remember that in the Melodic Minor, the 6th and 7th steps are raised on the way up and they are natural on the way down.

so.. it's all very confusing and I am sure to get yet another SUCK keyboard harmony grade tomorrow!!

OK.. so to keep myself from freaking out and being afraid of the unknown, these are the things I have to do/prepare for this week:

General things with no set day -

• Take Willis to Vet
• Laundry
• Buy Cold Medicine - GET BETTER!
• Get shower cleaner stuff and clean shower
• Get Aveda lotion or similiar since heat is drying out skin (ugh winter)
• Re-write POLISCI paper to more thesis format
• Write Music Lit paper re: CD Response
• Read Ch's 1-5 and listen to CD 1 for Music Lit for Midterm on Thursday

MONDAY

1. Dress up, as today is area/studio
2. 8:00AM Homework is due for Music Theory. Page 79 - Macro Analysis
3. 9:00AM counseling appointment
4. 10:00AM - French, oral presentations
5. 11:30AM - Keyboard Harmony
6. 12:ooPM - Piano Class
7. 4:ooPM - Area/Studio (For Voice Lessons)
8. 5:00PM - Work until 9PM
9. No set time: 30 mins voice practice, MACGamut to turn in next week. 3 levels of Mastery

TUESDAY

1. 8:00AM - Aural Skills, find out how I did on last week's exam
2. 10:00AM - French, oral presentations
3. 11:00AM - Recital (observe)
4. 3:00PM - University Choir
5. 7:15 PM - EXAM in Political Science on Congress
6. No set time: 30 mins voice practice, MACGamut to turn in next week. 3 levels of Mastery

WEDNESDAY

1. 8:00AM - Homework for Music Theory - WB4A
2. 10:00AM - French, oral presentations
3. 12:00PM - Functional Piano
4. 3:00 PM - University Choir
5. No set time: 30 mins voice practice, MACGamut to turn in next week. 3 levels of Mastery

THURSDAY

1. 8:00AM - Aural Skills
2. 9:00AM - Voice Lesson Must memorize Tu Lo Sai, Quella Fiamma and Blackbird
3. 10:00 AM - French
4. 12:00 - Music Literature MIDTERM EXAM
5. 3:00PM - University Choir
6. 5:00 PM - Possibly work

FRIDAY

1. Homework due for Music Theory - page 80
2. French - Oral presentation
3. Piano, play for prof
4. 2:00PM WORK

SATURDAY

9-5 WORK

SUNDAY

9-5 WORK

Paper for PoliSci

Election 2004: Who I feel would best represent our country



Teresa Jo Dunn
E00202295





Eastern Michigan University

PLSC 112-31
October 2, 2004

How does one make sense of it all?

More recently in my life, I’ve developed a healthy skepticism of politicians and the media. I understand the power of public relations and advertising. To this end, endorsements and campaign ads give me an ill feeling. After all, how many advertisers ever really tell you the truth? In our lifetime, there have been a great number of companies in litigation over false claims or omissions about their products. The resulting mistrust of the companies by consumers bleeds into the mistrust of a thinking voter.

My personal journey to the ballot box

I remember taking a tour of City Hall as a young girl in Augusta, GA back in the 1970’s. When we were shown the City Clerk’s office, the woman said: “I have the most important job in this building. It may be more important than the Mayor. This is where people register to vote.” She explained the concepts that came to frame my ideas of democracy and instilled the importance of the individual as a citizen of this country. We all promised to always vote. Of course, it would be at least 10 years before any of us could fulfill that promise. While some may have forgotten, I did not. I remember the first presidential election in which my vote was cast. We were riding on the wave of the first “war” in my life. Operation Desert Storm seemed quick and victorious. I thought, “Wow, America is powerful and right.” Of course, that is all I was aware of in those days. Being a student with thoughts of car trouble, parental tyranny and dating, anything else just seemed like mere details to let the grown-ups settle. I dropped my punch card into to the box, not really caring if George Bush Sr. won or not. He didn’t and life moved on. During that time, I took foreign language classes, met a more diverse sampling of people through work and school. I became more aware of my place in the world. I developed respect and tolerance for people with views different from my own. I cultivated an open mind and gave myself permission to change it when presented with new information from different people and sources.

This year’s candidates, their platforms and what that means to me as a citizen of this country and of the world.

President George W. Bush, Incumbent
When doing research on this candidate’s stand on various issues, it was very difficult to find a clear outline of the party platform. I started on the Republican Party’s official site, GOP.com. The site itself has a very negative and “tabloid-esque” feel. The first thing I noticed was a feature called “Kerry Vs. Kerry – Kerry’s Top Ten Iraq Flip Flops From First Debate.” [1] Before I could even attempt to explore this candidate’s position, I was bombarded with information ridiculing and disrespecting the president’s opponent in the race. Is this how government is run? The front page of this site is dedicated to the degradation of the opponent, rather than the skill and strong reasons to re-elect President Bush. I always hoped that our leaders were above such petty blows. Of course, I keep in mind that supporters, not the president himself, maintain this site and so continue in my search. There is a link that says, “GOP Agenda.” There are articles on several facets making up the party’s platform. The first one I read is titled “President Bush's Plan to Grow the Economy and Create Jobs.” While reading this article, I felt as if my intelligence were being insulted. This is an excerpt from the article:

The President’s new proposal would:
Provide help for unemployed Americans, including extending unemployment benefits and creating new re-employment accounts to help displaced workers get back on the job. [2]

As an unemployed American, I saw President Bush actually cancel extensions of unemployment benefits. I already cannot trust the credibility of this candidate. In the first paragraph, I have personally been the recipient of a lie. I am sad to say that my attitude is already colored by betrayal. If there were a good reason for the cancellation, I would listen. But now, he is making a promise to help displaced workers like me? I don’t want his kind of help. How is a tax break going to make things right when I don’t make anything to be taxed?

Under the President’s proposal to speed up tax relief, 92 million taxpayers would receive, on average, a tax cut of $1,083 in 2003.
46 million married couples would receive an average tax cut of $1,716.
34 million families with children would benefit from an average tax cut of $1,473.
6 million single women with children would receive an average tax cut of $541.
13 million elderly taxpayers would receive an average tax cut of $1,384.
23 million small business owners would receive tax cuts averaging $2,042.
The President’s Plan is Good for All Americans
A typical family of four with two earners making a combined $39,000 in income will receive a total of $1,100 in tax relief under the President’s plan. [3]

Not to be selfish, but I don’t see myself in any of those categories. President Bush’s plan is tailor-made to reward people who fit within his personal idea of the kind of family life an American citizen should have. There is no provision for people who do not have children or are not married. Single, childless women and other minorities such as gay couples, who do not adhere to the kind of family that President Bush does, are not represented within his plans. The arrogance in the line that “The President’s Plan is Good for All Americans,” stirs anger in me, reminding me that I must not be included in his definition of “American.”

At this point, I already have a bad taste in my mouth, but I continue to look for something on which I can agree with the President. Like many people, I look to my peers. I have a friend who has been in the Air Force since we graduated from High School. I recently asked him what his thoughts were on the election. Bear in mind that I have a great deal of respect for him and for his experience as a veteran and as a person:

“The numbers don't lie. John Kerry is an anti-war, anti-military, socialist elitist and a liar. I take his voting record on the senate floor as all the proof I need… So...while Bush is NOT the perfect president, he is, in my worldly opinion, the best option we have. I have more money, pay less taxes, feel much safer, and am dedicated to hunting down the GLOBAL (including Iraq) threat of terrorism…So yes...now you know where I stand...because a year ago it was next to an Arab tanker truck that was filled with possible explosives and trying to enter my camp.....

God Bless George W. Bush..

Technical Sergeant XXXXXXXXXXX, veteran of THREE foreign wars,(one under Clinton for the same reasons we're in Iraq), USAF”

So here is one of my best friends telling me that I can’t possibly know what is going on in the world, because I haven’t lived it his way. I can understand if you have a family and a career that is based on war, then you would want war. It’s what earns your living. So, he is welcome to vote for President Bush. If the majority of Americans feel as he does, then I am a minority and according to the rules of the Democracy as the general public know it, I will just have to live under their choice. However, I don’t feel that this is the opinion of the majority of Americans.

Senator John Kerry
Navigating to Senator Kerry’s page was a nice change of atmosphere. The message appears to be positive. The mudslinging is at a minimum. Just to be fair, I went to the Democratic Party’s official site. Again, the supporters of the candidate seem to be a bit more “on the attack.” However, the sheer amount of anti-Bush content is far less and what exists is nowhere near as sensationalized as that on the RNC website. It was easy to find a cohesive Democratic part platform document that was available for download. The following points resonate with me the most:

“We believe that upholding international standards for the treatment of prisoners, wherever they may be held, advances America's national security, the security of our troops, and the values of our people. And we believe torture is unacceptable. America should abide by its own laws and the treaties it has ratified, including the Geneva Conventions”. [4]

“Global Health. Addressing global health challenges – including the AIDS pandemic – is a Humanitarian obligation and a national security imperative. We are committed to a coordinated effort to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States and in all other regions throughout the world." [5]

“No strategy for American security is complete without a plan to end America's dependence on Mideast oil. Today, the American economy depends on oil controlled by some of the world's most repressive regimes. This leaves our economy dangerously vulnerable to nations that do not share our interests. America too often is silent about the practices of some governments because we depend on oil they control.” [6]

“Tax reform to create jobs. Today's tax law provides big breaks for companies that send American jobs overseas. Current "deferral" policies allow American companies to avoid paying American taxes on the income earned by their foreign subsidiaries. John Kerry and John Edwards will end deferral that encourages companies to ship jobs overseas, and they will close other loopholes to make the tax code work for the American worker.” [7]

“Cutting health care costs. At the center of our efforts will be a plan to reduce health costs. We will lift a financial burden on families, businesses, and the self-employed by picking up the tab for the highest-cost medical cases. That will save America's families up to $1,000 on their premiums.” [8]

“Our commitment to civil rights is ironclad. We will restore vigorous federal enforcement of our civil rights laws for all our people, from fair housing to equal employment opportunity, from Title IX to the Americans with Disabilities Act. We support affirmative action to redress discrimination and to achieve the diversity from which all Americans benefit. We believe a day's work is worth a day's pay, and at a time when women still earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by men, we need stronger equal pay laws and stronger enforcement of them. We will enact the bipartisan legislation barring workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. We are committed to equal treatment of all service members and believe all patriotic Americans should be allowed to serve our country without discrimination, persecution, or violence. We support the appointment of judges who will uphold our laws and constitutional rights, not their own narrow agendas.” [9]

Finding an Answer

I tried to find a similar document supporting President Bush’s platform, and after searching the Internet, rather than the RNC site, I found it. It was very discouraging to weed through all the website propaganda to finally dig up the platform. To be honest, it was much harder to read due to format, than the Democratic one, and I think that is by design. I feel that party would rather tell people what to think and feel, than let them figure it out for themselves by looking at the platform. Many of the sentences make me feel like I am being spoon-fed:

“Today, Afghanistan is a world away from the nightmare of the Taliban. Twenty-eight Million people are free. That country has a good and just president. Boys and girls are being educated. Women are respected. Many refugees have returned home to rebuild their country, and a presidential election is scheduled for this fall.” [10]

I’ve researched the issues, and honestly the two candidates do have similar goals, just different routes. I feel as if Senator Kerry is choosing to use a key to open the door of national success where President Bush has been using a sledge hammer, which brings with it a bigger mess and more cost to repair the entire structure. I feel that Senator Kerry represents my way of thinking better than President Bush. I must say that my vote solidly belongs to John Kerry this election year.

Bibliography

While not all works here were directly cited, they all have lead to the opinions expressed in this paper.

Republican National Committee
October 2, 2004

http://www.gop.com

The Lone Star Iconoclast

“Kerry Will Restore American Dignity.”
October 2, 2004
http://news.iconoclast-texas.com/web/Columns/Editorial/editorial39.htm

Democratic National Committee
Official Website
October 2, 2004
http://www.democrats.org/

Discover Magazine

Greenburg, Daniel. “Bush vs. Kerry on Science”

Vol. 25 No. 10 October 2004
http://www.discover.com/issues/oct-04/features/bush-vs-kerry-on-science/

John Kerry for President
Official Website
October 2, 2004

http://www.johnkerry.com

National Public Radio“Fact-checking the Debate”
September 30, 2004
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4056265

The Democratic National Committee

“Strong at Home, Respected in the World, the 2004 Democratic National Platform for America”

July 27, 2004

http://www.democrats.org/platform/index.html

The Republican National Committee
“2004 Republican Party Platform: A Safer World and a More Hopeful America”
August 26, 2004

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Sections
/News/Politics/Conventions/RNC-2004platform.pdf

Look out boys... I am back on the prowl ;)

226
Breakfast - Peanut butter/choc wafer
Lunch - Bagel
Dinner - Apple, Sandwich, Baked Doritos

Maya Angelou was great last night. I am so glad that Marilyn and I went.

.

Praise bright blue skies
and dark rain clouds.
Lift happy
voices upon the morning air.
Murmur sweet words soft
lyin the evening
breeze. - Maya Angelou

I am getting back on track with my program. However, I finally got some information about of a certain someone about why were aren't and never will be (apparently) dating.

It seems that my temper is foul.

On a certain occasion I blew up and fled from a situation. Mind you, it was during the beginning of my near binging when I was entering work/school overload near-misery. I recognized the tantrum and apologized immediately. However, it was the proverbial final straw.


Also, I think that I am past my dating issues. I think I could embark on dating now that it has been since May since I've "acted out" on the SLAA front. I might give eHarmony a whirl. With the way my schedule is... This might be the best time. I am too busy to really smother anyone or make things go faster than they should.

I usually get compliments for my headlights...

226
Breakfast - Bagel and yogurt
Lunch - Sandwich

Dinner - Sesame Chicken and Turtle Cheesecake

Last night on the way home from work, people kept flashing their headlights at me. I pulled over and sure enough, my passenger-side headlight was out. Today, Christian is going to help me fix it. Poor Christian lost his job yesterday. On one hand, that is good because he hated that job, on the other... well you already know what's on the other.

There's really nothing interesting to post yet today, aside from the fact that I was late getting to school due to construction and due to my own slowness this morning.

General Funk-Ass Malaise

228 (after being 225 just Monday!)
Breakfast: Meijer Non Fat Yogurt, 110 calories
Lunch: Med Ice Cream from Cold Stone - Coconut Creme Pie
Dinner: Sandwich, Baked Doritos

I have been just BLAH the past 2-3 weeks. I hope the change in my school program helps, but it's been evident in my eating patterns that there has been something wrong with me. In short... I have gone off program. So, I've lost my abstinence. It wasn't really a binge so to speak... but I have not been following my program, so that makes me "off the wagon." As of today, I am trying to crawl back on. Therefore... here's today's food diary entry (which magically were not part of my past posts... hmmm???? Coincidence?)

I have to find a way to get back into the OA meetings. I keep saying I will go to online meetings, but that just hasn't happened. There is counseling here at school. Maybe I can get a standing appointment there. At least then I have to be accountable.

I can tell I'm coming off a sort of binge. My head is woozy. I am hungry. I feel like general crap. I want things like ice cream and salt & vinegar potato chips. Maybe I am pregnant. Oh wait.. that requires sex. Well then.. I am not pregnant... that plus I am just finishing my period. Yeah - I know - TMI.

Choir is cancelled today. Thank Goodness. I have a million errands to run. Tomorrow night is Maya Angelou with Marilyn.. YAY!

I feel like hibernating. It's so cold today! I need to get more sleep and I need to practice piano... it never ends! :)

Vive La France

I have officially sent in the request to change my major from Music Education to French Teaching. I spoke with my advisors and teachers, as well as Betty (my landlady - who is a teacher). I have been miserable these last couple of weeks. I am not loving my music classes as I should. Digging into the music is taking the beauty and emotion out of it for me. When have I been happy? When I have been in my French classes. Anyway... I am happy about the choice I made and I should actually get done with school within a decent amount of time now.

Yesterday, I got a very cool package from my Aunt Liz in Arizona. She sent me a bunch of pictures from when I was growing up. There were pictures of Steve, of Phil, even of Kenny. There were many from my girl scout adventures. I used to be pretty cute. ;) I will have to post some of them sometime.

The fucking dress, the flowers, and all that shit

I want it... not just the ceremony, but IT. I want to be married and have kids and the whole thing that my brain tells me I shouldn't want.

Yes.. I want the dress with the big ass skirt... I want to starve myself for a year just for this because I want to look BEE-FUCKING-YOU-TEA-FULL even if it is in the manner of the day and according to society, blah, blah, blah. More than a chance to wear a dress and have a big ass party where I get to see all the people I love at the same time... I want to feel strongly enough about another person to do this. I want to love someone, damn it... and I want them to love me back for all the great things that I am. Why is it so fucking complicated?

I want to have children.. I want to love them even when they hate me for making them do all the shit I hated doing as a kid.


I am 31 years old ... and everyone feels compelled to tell me that I am still young, yet. I think they do it so quickly because that's the OPPOSITE of what they really think.

That Ashley Girl

That Ashley Girl

This site was cracking me up today... Ashley, please ALWAYS use condoms :)

Sentimental Journey

For some reason, today, I am feeling nostalgic about the time I spent in Georgia (age 3 to 23). I think I am missing Steve, my one true love. :) Really... he was the one. I've never felt such a sincere connection with anyone else again in my life. What a shame that I had that at age 18-23, when I didn't know anything. I hate that I've never felt that way again.

Anyway.. that is depressing as hell... these are the things I love(d) or miss about Georgia:

• Red Georgia Clay
• Green Trees ALL YEAR LONG
• Augusta GreenJackets baseball
• Orchestra every Saturday morning
• Building things out of scrap lumber at my Dad's house
• Learning how to play football in the Cain's front yard
• Watching Steve play ping pong with Larry at the Student Center
• Working at the Haunted House for Sociology Club
• Spending hours in Book-A-Million with Steve, together, even though we were in different parts of the store.
• Waffle House in the wee hours of the morning after St. Patrick's Day
• Lunches at Joe's Underground / Live Music there on the weekends with Keith Gregory
• Singing at the ballpark after the games, just a guitar and piles of leftover, bready Pizza Hut
• Trips to Athens to buy old books
• Lakewood Ampitheatre - Iron Maiden - Queensryche - Van Halen
• The Fox Theatre in Atlanta - Cats - Les Miserables - Phantom of the Opera
• Auditioning for All State Chorus at UGA
• Wearing my jeans backwards in 6th grade during honors assembly
• Mr. Savory - 8th grade, playing "CANS" after school - the videos for Earth Science
• Thanksgiving Eves on the RiverWalk with Brian speaking French
• Learning to drive Matt's Mustang at Clark Hill
• Clark Hill in general (first place Steve and I ... you know)
• Long talks at the beer stand after baseball games
• Playing pool with Jody and Steve
• Playing chess with Jody and Steve
• Savannah
• Calverts
• My first job at the movie theatre
• Decorating cakes at Baskin Robbins
• Holding hands with Mike French at My Fair Lady - senior year
• Season Tickets to Opera/Ballet with Steve
• Camping with Scott
• Going to all the Minor League games across the South
• Steve as the Easter Bunny, Sting and the Augusta College Jaguar
• Riding bikes in Hephzibah
• Kyoto

I know I can't live in the past... but it feels so much more real than my present. School is going pretty roughly. My schedule is incredibly hectic. It would all be so much easier to take if there were some hugs thrown in now and then. I am tired of being self reliant and not needing anyone. I know that now isn't the time to start a relationship, as I am still changing and growing... but that doesn't mean I don't sincerely miss it... and especially him.

Ebony and Ivory

226
Breakfast - PopTarts Lunch - Sandwich and Doritos

This weekend is "cram all my schoolwork into my brain" weekend. Since I moved from one section of Music Theory and Aural Skills to another, I have to do all the assignments that class has done since the beginning of school. The weird thing is, they didn't do the same exercises we did.... so I have a great deal of work to do. I am having a hard time with almost all of it, since it's all so brand new. Some things are starting to click while others are just hanging out in the atmosphere taunting me. Most are things that I need to memorize like key signatures and scales. Just a word of advice to anyone taking Music Theory, etc... who's primary instrument isn't piano.... Take Some Lessons! You have to be intimately aware of the piano keys. There are a zillion different kinds of scales. Depending on where you start and the form of the scale, there are so many different ways a scale can be played. (And you thought a scale went straight up and down.. HAH!)

Here are the main forms of scales:
Major Scale
Whole Step/Whole Step/Half Step/Whole Step/Whole Step/Whole Step/Half Step

Sounds easy enough, right? If you know which keys are next to which ones in the first place, sure it is


Here's a picture of piano keys - each white key is a note, so with this group, we start on C, then D, then E, F, G, A, B, C, .... A whole step is going from a note like C to D, because to take a half step would mean pressing the black key between them. Easy, right? Now... Look at the E and the F... there's no black key between them, they are RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER, and thus... a HALF STEP apart. So, on a C scale, you can still get your half steps in without pressing any black keys. But, what if you wanted to start on D instead? To make the same pattern, you press D, E, F#(black key), G, (whole whole half - see?) and then A, B, C#, D (The black key after C makes the "half" of "whole, whole, whole, half").

By moving over ONE key, we had to accomodate the shift in half steps by using 2 black keys.

Similiar variations appear depending on the key where you start. It doesn't make my brain hurt to know this, but just as I was getting comfortable with the fact I that I would have to memorize these scales, I realize that you can start on the black keys as well, making a scale from there, doubling the amount of stuff to hold in my noggin. Still not too bad....

Minor Scale
Now that's tricky... there's more than one form of minor scale!
Natural Minor Scale
Whole Step/Half Step/Whole Step/Whole Step/Half Step/Whole Step/Whole Step

Harmonic Minor Scale
Whole Step/Half Step/Whole Step/Whole Step/Half Step/Step and a Half/Whole Step

Melodic Minor Scale
Whole Step/Half Step/Whole Step/Whole Step/Whole Step/Whole Step/Half Step

Can you see why this might be a little overwhelming? This is just the tiniest part of the things I am cramming into my head at the moment. Don't let me get started on notation, meter, Scale Degrees, etc....

On the bright side, I am so excited that I am finally learning about all these things I've heard all my life, but didn't know what or WHY they were. Oh My Gosh... I am turning into a musician... I am so amazed.