Just what do you mean by difficult and frustrating?

What Concert Band Instrument Are You? Xylophone You require a true master to get to know you. You are difficult and frustrating to deal with; but, when dealing with the right person, you are an incredible asset to any group.

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Holiday Plans

... and by "Holiday" I mean Christmas and thereafter...

Tomorrow we visit Danny's parents for Christmas (a day early). Steve's fiancee will be there (we've met her once, Danny's parents have met her twice). What do you buy for someone that really says "I don't know anything about you"? Apparantly the answer is a set of empty photo albums! Can't get more impersonal than that!

In response to Paige's post regarding absence of a Christmas tree, Danny and I are in the same type of position (less the forthcoming child). But, on top of that, Danny and I stopped exchanging gifts about 2 years ago (pre-wedding some time). Not just for Christmas either... we forget all about gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. I'm not saying we don't get things... they just aren't surprises and they aren't wrapped in anything but the bag from the store. For example, the other night Danny took me to my favorite store for career wear (Casual Corner) which is coincidentally closing ALL of its stores in the US. I was allowed to buy anything and everything I wanted (which turned out to be 4 pairs of dress pants, a suit with both pants and skirt, a fleece pullover, 3 sweaters, and 3 sleeveless shirts... and 21 hangers for slacks/skirts). Afterwards, we went to JC Penney where Danny purchased for himself two sportcoats. Okay... so Danny paid for everything... but it is our Christmas, so to speak. It works for us!

Sunday we leave for the first part of our trip to DC. We first will spend the night at my Grandmother's house in Shady Valley (not too far from Rachel's domicile, I'm sure). Then early Monday we will travel the rest of the way to our rental property. We found out a couple days ago that the parking situation has changed again. Originally we were supposed to have 2 off-street parking spots at the site. Then it changed to just one (remodeling would not allot space for two vehicles). Now informed that even that one spot won't be availble (construction not complete). So we will have to rapidly unload and then drive to a garage about 5 blocks away... but only for daytime parking (no overnight). We can park outside on the street in front of the property after 7:30 pm, but we must either move by 8:30 am, or pay the meter all day, or leave it and get a $30 ticket (max of one per day). Not sure exactly what we are going to do, but it will be interesting anyway. Wish us luck!

Holy Crap!

Merry Christmas to Spain!

Let us Join Together in Saying...

"She's the mayor of Crazy Town.".

Kong is King!

Great movie... one of the best overall movies I have seen in a long, long time. I can easily see how reviewers have said it will surpass Titanic in sales/Oscars/etc. Do yourself a favor and see it. (This comes from a skeptic of new movies with major hype.)

UTNAA Online Community

Okay, all you UT alums... there is now an online community for us brought to you free by the UT National Alumni Assoc. You can update your info, post news from your life, get an email forwarding service for contacts, etc. But you can only look up others if they have listed their info on the site.

So do it...

Empty Pockets

Classes are officially over, tests and all. Still need to complete my final paperwork for SCO to turn my tentative acceptance into official acceptance. This requires me to get a TB skin test, have my immunizations up-to-date (easy thanks to Uncle Sam), and verify that my vision is acceptable. So I have to schedule some appointments with various doctors to take care of these minor details. They have already receieved my $500 advance payment, so the paperwork is all that remains. With that $500 plus the $772 I had to pay to UT for my 2 Spring classes, my bank account is dwindling... Time for a PT job.

Updates Schmupdates

I see that we all have been less than adamant in our postings of late (except for Paige who keeps me entertained). Although I might not find any of the recent events of my life very interesting (or at least interesting enough for any of you), I have decided to share some things anyway.

Classes have ended and I have but one final left (Wed 5 pm). This is my Anatomy lecture "final" which is really just a fourth exam (since he went on for 2 1/2 weeks on the first lecture topic and was so far behind there was no other way to catch up). I really don't have to take it (1 test grade will be dropped)... but the stipulation for dropping the lowest grade is that we must take all four exams. However, I have been informed that "taking" consists of showing up, filling out personal info on the scantron and nothing more. *Can we say WASTE OF TIME* I already have a score of 102 in this class anyway. Could they really make it any easier for the future physicians of this world... the average is in the 80s. You know the saying... what do you call a medical student graduate with the lowest GPA... A: DOCTOR!

Had a gig this weekend (two Sunday performances). More $$$ to add to the SCO fund. Danny played, too. Much needed income! Don't get to play much anymore now that I am (again) out of the UT music loop. Fellenbaum is trying to recruit me for UT Orch again this semester. I'd like to play, but it is a huge time commitment and I'm just about broke. Going to have to find a job of some sort, but must be on MWF (classes scheduled for TR). Thus, it will most likely interfere with UTSO. They will be playing The Pines of Rome, supposed to be performed for TMEA this spring. Ah... would be fun, but I doubt they could produce the $$$ I would need to get me to play. :( Still owed some dough for my horn that I have been selling for about 3 years now. I hate to talk money with people, but it's really getting to be time to collect on the final payment. All of this is after I was talked down $300 in price, too.

In a few weeks my family and I will depart on the first ever family vacation. The place in DC has been paid in full, and keys should be on the way. We will either have a fabulous time or we will kill each other. (TBD) In any event, I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories to share... Oh, and there will be a mandatory visit to Cate's Bistro in Old Alexandria!!! *drool*

Sent in my $500 deposit (advance payment) to SCO for tuition. Still have to get lots of stuff done to be "officially" accepted (have tentative acceptance until all paperwork is in). This means optometrist/physicians must sign off on all health forms and I must complete all other paperwork(s). I'm going to try to get this all done this week. Next awaited information from SCO... scholarships. Any amount is requested!

Time to hop in the shower and head to UT... Book buyback time!!! Also going to meet up with my brother and purchase tickets to A Christmas Carol at the Clarence Brown. He has a friend who has a part in it. We will see on Friday, if tickets are available.

Long enough update for you?

Once you slack, can you ever go back?

Don't you just love when your final grade only depends on two remaining exams (finals)... and that even if you don't take either of them you will still have an A in the class!!!

This is my situation in my Anatomy class. This will not happen, of course, because I will take both tests anyway. But it could happen... One of the four tests in the lecture portion of the class will be dropped (and my average right now without the fourth is 102). For the lab portion, I have 196.5/300 (100 points are possible to earn tomorrow on the lab final). With the percentages given for each portion of the course, I fare pretty well. See, everyone... you can slack and still do well --- if you slack at the END of the semester instead of the beginning!