::sigh:: why are you so pretty and so expensive at the same time?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
dear amy, see you in september
This is all the rage on youtube right now, to make a video and talk to your past, but I thought I would post it here instead. I'm not big on videos.
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Hey 12 year old self! Right now you’re still in grammar school, probably 7th grade. Here’s a tip: study a little bit more, try a little bit harder. Although, that extra credit project for science was pretty kick-ass. After you graduate, your “best friend” will basically back-stab you. You grow apart, but it’s worth it, because you find out who your best friend is. She’s awesome and means so much to you.
While in 8th grade, your grandmother on your dad’s side gets really sick. You go to visit her at various hospitals and nursing homes, but you always get scared in those places and run out into the hall to cry. No matter how scared you get, or how sad you feel about her sickness, go see her as much as you can. You regret it just a little bit in the future…..your future self wishes you talked to grandma a little more, and told her just how much you love her.
For high school, you almost went to TMLA. You had THOUGHTS about it, and you actually envisioned yourself going to that school. I just want to thank you for making the choice to go to SFP. In those four years of high school, you meet some of your best friends and you have some of the best experiences of your LIFE.
In your freshman year, you meet a girl the first day of school that was in your Cor by accident (she actually belongs in the Cor before you). She won't remember this little fact, but you do. A couple weeks later, you meet her again through a mutual friend. She becomes your high school best friend. She is AWESOME. Thank you thank you thank you for being friends with her. And just so you know, right now she’s engaged. :)
In your sophomore year, all of your friends have Sweet 16s. Maybe you should’ve had one, too (but to be honest, most of the people you would’ve invited – you don’t even talk to anymore, and most of the people you would’ve wanted to be there….well, you haven’t met them yet).
In your junior year, you meet one of the greatest guys in the world. Throughout the next two years, you two become really close, and basically tell each other everything. You have the hugest crush on him. Tell him, damnit! Tell him you like him…what’s the worst that could happen? It might’ve changed your life and changed your relationship with him (I’m sorry to tell you this, but you barely talk to him now). Also, cherish all the memories you make in your Junior year. Looking back, you think that Junior year was one of your favorites (despite all the Regents exams you have to take…..you kick ass on them, though).
At the end of your junior year, you chop your long hair off and donate to Locks of Love. I am so incredibly proud of you for that. You did something so awesome that you’ve inspired your future self to grow her hair out and donate again.
Right before you start your senior year, your Opa passes away. I’m really sorry to be telling you about this, but I want you to spend more time with him. You used to spend every morning and every afternoon with him when you were in grammar school. And even though you’re in high school, he lives just across the street. Go spend some time with him. Play the piano for him (he loves that!), play a few games of chess with him (he lets you win. He never lets ANYONE win.), or just sit and talk with him. Ask him what it was like growing up. Those are the stories your future self wish she had, and she doesn’t.
Here’s some advice. GET A JOB WHILE YOU’RE IN HIGH SCHOOL! Your future self has a job, but she’s looking for more work, and the job market BLOWS right now. You should’ve started working earlier, started building up your work experience earlier. I understand, high school is tough, but it’s not as tough as you may think.
At the end of Senior year, you have to take the AP Music Theory exam. You get a 3 out of 5, which is pretty awesome according to your standards. It was a freaking hard test! You also have one of the most life-changing trips ever…you go to Australia with small group of kids from the music department of SFP. Thank you for making the decision that you wanted to go. It was the trip of a lifetime. And you know why? You get to perform in the Sydney freaking Opera House. Hell yeah. Some more advice….be true to yourself. Some shit goes down in Cairns and you get into some fights, but you make up with your room mates over chocolate and Oreos and THE LIST. The List is hilarious…..you should try to save it (you didn’t).
Now you’re college bound. On your first day at MC, you hear this sophomore girl around the corner talking to her friends about the two Hanson concerts she went to that summer. Go talk to her. Go talk to her NOW. Don’t wait until the next day when you see her at the bus stop and talk to her about your mutual favorite band on the bus. Get off your ass in the cubby and seek her out NOW. One more day of friendship with her could’ve moved mountains. She plays a pretty big role in your college life. In your junior year, you find out your major just isn’t for you. Let me prepare you for that….back out. Back out now. Change your major to Music and Psychology at your earliest convenience. When you finally do switch your major (after lots of crying fests), you take a bunch of awesome and interesting psychology classes and meet a few great new friends. You meet some new and incredible professors in the psychology department. You KICK ASS on your final paper in Interdisciplinary Studies. You participate in two Global Learning trips (the first one to Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic at the end of your freshman year, and London in the middle of your senior year).
You get to meet your newest cousin Livia while you’re in Austria with your school on the global learning trip. Take more pictures of the day you spent with your family. You only have a couple pictures of that day, and you cherish those pictures so much.
Your sister gets married, and it’s one of the best days ever! You all basically have the time of your lives. But a little advice, when your camera breaks a couple weeks before that, don’t send it in for repairs. Just get a new one. Then you would’ve been able to capture your own memories at the wedding, instead of having to rely on mom and dad’s camera (because the batteries eventually die at one point in the evening, and they forgot to bring back-up). And get a picture (or more) with your date. Your best friend tries to take one while the two of you are dancing, but it’s your backs. Now, you only have a picture of his back and your ass to remember.
You and your cousin Emily get to go to Austria to visit your family for a few weeks. Thank you thank you thank you again for making a great decision! It was one of the best times of your life, you got to see your family’s life (instead of them always coming to the US to visit), and you got closer with your cousins Emily and Barbara.
The next few years, your cousin Barbara comes to visit a couple times, and you become so close to her, which is awesome. Get even closer. She lives so far away, but because you constantly talk with her, you have such a strong connection with her. (That train ride at 3am coming home from Long Island was totally worth it with her, despite how worried and pissed off your dad and her brother were).
You learn to knit. Ask Oma to teach you at an earlier age. You could be knitting sweaters by now! But knitting is awesome. Start selling your creations earlier. Don’t wait until NOW to figure out ways to sell them. You could’ve made a fortune by now.
You join the Cabs. This is a blessing in disguise. You make lots of friends, you increase your friend count on facebook (you increase your PICTURE count on facebook because of it), you learn crazy music at crazy speeds, you make your father proud because you become the 2nd generation, and you have the time of your life. You should’ve joined earlier, I’m just saying. But you’re grateful you joined when you did, even though sometimes you get stressed out because of it, and you don’t enjoy everyone you meet there. You’re part of a legacy and you’re really really happy about it.
Your Oma gets sick, but because you don’t have a full time job, you’re able to spend time with her and take care of her. This is one of the best things ever. Spend more time with her, though. She doesn’t always tell you personally, but she loves having you there. She loves having the company. She tells mom all the time. Offer as much time as you can to hang out with her.
Oh yeah. Your hard drive in your laptop dies in November 2008. You call a company to recover all your pictures and music and stuff. It was a lesson you had to learn….but seriously, next time, CALL ADAM. He has a $13 cable that will probably get all your info back. Stupid stupid stupid. Live and learn, Kristin, live and learn.
12 year old self, in the end, you turn out okay. You have awesome friends, close family, a pretty great job, and hobbies that you love. Even though I gave you a bunch of advice on how to do things differently, you turn out to be a pretty decent human being. <3
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Hey 12 year old self! Right now you’re still in grammar school, probably 7th grade. Here’s a tip: study a little bit more, try a little bit harder. Although, that extra credit project for science was pretty kick-ass. After you graduate, your “best friend” will basically back-stab you. You grow apart, but it’s worth it, because you find out who your best friend is. She’s awesome and means so much to you.
While in 8th grade, your grandmother on your dad’s side gets really sick. You go to visit her at various hospitals and nursing homes, but you always get scared in those places and run out into the hall to cry. No matter how scared you get, or how sad you feel about her sickness, go see her as much as you can. You regret it just a little bit in the future…..your future self wishes you talked to grandma a little more, and told her just how much you love her.
For high school, you almost went to TMLA. You had THOUGHTS about it, and you actually envisioned yourself going to that school. I just want to thank you for making the choice to go to SFP. In those four years of high school, you meet some of your best friends and you have some of the best experiences of your LIFE.
In your freshman year, you meet a girl the first day of school that was in your Cor by accident (she actually belongs in the Cor before you). She won't remember this little fact, but you do. A couple weeks later, you meet her again through a mutual friend. She becomes your high school best friend. She is AWESOME. Thank you thank you thank you for being friends with her. And just so you know, right now she’s engaged. :)
In your sophomore year, all of your friends have Sweet 16s. Maybe you should’ve had one, too (but to be honest, most of the people you would’ve invited – you don’t even talk to anymore, and most of the people you would’ve wanted to be there….well, you haven’t met them yet).
In your junior year, you meet one of the greatest guys in the world. Throughout the next two years, you two become really close, and basically tell each other everything. You have the hugest crush on him. Tell him, damnit! Tell him you like him…what’s the worst that could happen? It might’ve changed your life and changed your relationship with him (I’m sorry to tell you this, but you barely talk to him now). Also, cherish all the memories you make in your Junior year. Looking back, you think that Junior year was one of your favorites (despite all the Regents exams you have to take…..you kick ass on them, though).
At the end of your junior year, you chop your long hair off and donate to Locks of Love. I am so incredibly proud of you for that. You did something so awesome that you’ve inspired your future self to grow her hair out and donate again.
Right before you start your senior year, your Opa passes away. I’m really sorry to be telling you about this, but I want you to spend more time with him. You used to spend every morning and every afternoon with him when you were in grammar school. And even though you’re in high school, he lives just across the street. Go spend some time with him. Play the piano for him (he loves that!), play a few games of chess with him (he lets you win. He never lets ANYONE win.), or just sit and talk with him. Ask him what it was like growing up. Those are the stories your future self wish she had, and she doesn’t.
Here’s some advice. GET A JOB WHILE YOU’RE IN HIGH SCHOOL! Your future self has a job, but she’s looking for more work, and the job market BLOWS right now. You should’ve started working earlier, started building up your work experience earlier. I understand, high school is tough, but it’s not as tough as you may think.
At the end of Senior year, you have to take the AP Music Theory exam. You get a 3 out of 5, which is pretty awesome according to your standards. It was a freaking hard test! You also have one of the most life-changing trips ever…you go to Australia with small group of kids from the music department of SFP. Thank you for making the decision that you wanted to go. It was the trip of a lifetime. And you know why? You get to perform in the Sydney freaking Opera House. Hell yeah. Some more advice….be true to yourself. Some shit goes down in Cairns and you get into some fights, but you make up with your room mates over chocolate and Oreos and THE LIST. The List is hilarious…..you should try to save it (you didn’t).
Now you’re college bound. On your first day at MC, you hear this sophomore girl around the corner talking to her friends about the two Hanson concerts she went to that summer. Go talk to her. Go talk to her NOW. Don’t wait until the next day when you see her at the bus stop and talk to her about your mutual favorite band on the bus. Get off your ass in the cubby and seek her out NOW. One more day of friendship with her could’ve moved mountains. She plays a pretty big role in your college life. In your junior year, you find out your major just isn’t for you. Let me prepare you for that….back out. Back out now. Change your major to Music and Psychology at your earliest convenience. When you finally do switch your major (after lots of crying fests), you take a bunch of awesome and interesting psychology classes and meet a few great new friends. You meet some new and incredible professors in the psychology department. You KICK ASS on your final paper in Interdisciplinary Studies. You participate in two Global Learning trips (the first one to Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic at the end of your freshman year, and London in the middle of your senior year).
You get to meet your newest cousin Livia while you’re in Austria with your school on the global learning trip. Take more pictures of the day you spent with your family. You only have a couple pictures of that day, and you cherish those pictures so much.
Your sister gets married, and it’s one of the best days ever! You all basically have the time of your lives. But a little advice, when your camera breaks a couple weeks before that, don’t send it in for repairs. Just get a new one. Then you would’ve been able to capture your own memories at the wedding, instead of having to rely on mom and dad’s camera (because the batteries eventually die at one point in the evening, and they forgot to bring back-up). And get a picture (or more) with your date. Your best friend tries to take one while the two of you are dancing, but it’s your backs. Now, you only have a picture of his back and your ass to remember.
You and your cousin Emily get to go to Austria to visit your family for a few weeks. Thank you thank you thank you again for making a great decision! It was one of the best times of your life, you got to see your family’s life (instead of them always coming to the US to visit), and you got closer with your cousins Emily and Barbara.
The next few years, your cousin Barbara comes to visit a couple times, and you become so close to her, which is awesome. Get even closer. She lives so far away, but because you constantly talk with her, you have such a strong connection with her. (That train ride at 3am coming home from Long Island was totally worth it with her, despite how worried and pissed off your dad and her brother were).
You learn to knit. Ask Oma to teach you at an earlier age. You could be knitting sweaters by now! But knitting is awesome. Start selling your creations earlier. Don’t wait until NOW to figure out ways to sell them. You could’ve made a fortune by now.
You join the Cabs. This is a blessing in disguise. You make lots of friends, you increase your friend count on facebook (you increase your PICTURE count on facebook because of it), you learn crazy music at crazy speeds, you make your father proud because you become the 2nd generation, and you have the time of your life. You should’ve joined earlier, I’m just saying. But you’re grateful you joined when you did, even though sometimes you get stressed out because of it, and you don’t enjoy everyone you meet there. You’re part of a legacy and you’re really really happy about it.
Your Oma gets sick, but because you don’t have a full time job, you’re able to spend time with her and take care of her. This is one of the best things ever. Spend more time with her, though. She doesn’t always tell you personally, but she loves having you there. She loves having the company. She tells mom all the time. Offer as much time as you can to hang out with her.
Oh yeah. Your hard drive in your laptop dies in November 2008. You call a company to recover all your pictures and music and stuff. It was a lesson you had to learn….but seriously, next time, CALL ADAM. He has a $13 cable that will probably get all your info back. Stupid stupid stupid. Live and learn, Kristin, live and learn.
12 year old self, in the end, you turn out okay. You have awesome friends, close family, a pretty great job, and hobbies that you love. Even though I gave you a bunch of advice on how to do things differently, you turn out to be a pretty decent human being. <3
Saturday, January 24, 2009
and the 7th thing I hate the most that you do....
I came across this video, and I thought it was pretty awesome.
"Miley Cyrus is a comma splicer!"
"Miley Cyrus is a comma splicer!"
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
it's a beautiful day...don't let it get away
My dear acquaintance, it's so good to know you
For strength of your hand
That is loving and giving
And a happy new year
With love overflowing
With joy in our hearts
For the blessed new year
Raise your glass and we'll have a cheer
For us all who are gathered here
And a happy new year to all that is living
To all that is gentle, kind, and forgiving
Raise your glass and we'll have a cheer
My dear acquaintance, a happy new year
All of those who are hither and yonder
With love in our hearts
We grow fonder and fonder
Hail to those who we hold so dear
And hail to those who are gathered here
And a happy new year to all that is living
To all that is gentle, young, and forgiving
Raise your glass and we'll have a cheer
My dear acquaintance, a happy new year
Happy new year
"My Dear Aquaintance" by Regina Spektor
So....it's kind of late in the month of January, but I pretty much have figured out my resolutions for this year. I'm not usually big on resolutions (I rarely made them in the past) but I like the idea of making goals for the year, and then looking back on them a year later to see if you've accomplished them. So, here goes.
1) Read 50 books and document each book that I've read, as well as the date I finished reading them, in a journal. (My one rule is that they are all books that I have not previously read.)
2) Utilize the channel that Caitlin and I created to make weekly book challenge updates and track our progress.
3) Join a gym and be committed to exercising for a year.
4) Go to Disney World! (hopefully I'll be going in May, and not in September which is when I was originally going to be going)
5) Travel outside of the country at least once in 2009.
6) Start a journal/notebook where I collect all my favorite quotes and other things that I find inspirational.
7) Blog more.
8) Spend more time with Oma.
I hope to accomplish each and every one of these. Wish me luck!
And at this point, I would just like to say how proud I am to be one of the voters who helped elect Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. I watched his Inauguration Speech today - I'm pretty sure this is the first Inauguration Ceremony I've ever watched, because now I'm old enough to really understand what goes on and to take into account that this really affects my life. Although somber, he speech was eloquently given. He is a great speaker, and I do hope that he has many great plans for our country.
Congratulations, Mr. President.
How great is this picture?
For strength of your hand
That is loving and giving
And a happy new year
With love overflowing
With joy in our hearts
For the blessed new year
Raise your glass and we'll have a cheer
For us all who are gathered here
And a happy new year to all that is living
To all that is gentle, kind, and forgiving
Raise your glass and we'll have a cheer
My dear acquaintance, a happy new year
All of those who are hither and yonder
With love in our hearts
We grow fonder and fonder
Hail to those who we hold so dear
And hail to those who are gathered here
And a happy new year to all that is living
To all that is gentle, young, and forgiving
Raise your glass and we'll have a cheer
My dear acquaintance, a happy new year
Happy new year
"My Dear Aquaintance" by Regina Spektor
So....it's kind of late in the month of January, but I pretty much have figured out my resolutions for this year. I'm not usually big on resolutions (I rarely made them in the past) but I like the idea of making goals for the year, and then looking back on them a year later to see if you've accomplished them. So, here goes.
1) Read 50 books and document each book that I've read, as well as the date I finished reading them, in a journal. (My one rule is that they are all books that I have not previously read.)
2) Utilize the channel that Caitlin and I created to make weekly book challenge updates and track our progress.
3) Join a gym and be committed to exercising for a year.
4) Go to Disney World! (hopefully I'll be going in May, and not in September which is when I was originally going to be going)
5) Travel outside of the country at least once in 2009.
6) Start a journal/notebook where I collect all my favorite quotes and other things that I find inspirational.
7) Blog more.
8) Spend more time with Oma.
I hope to accomplish each and every one of these. Wish me luck!
And at this point, I would just like to say how proud I am to be one of the voters who helped elect Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. I watched his Inauguration Speech today - I'm pretty sure this is the first Inauguration Ceremony I've ever watched, because now I'm old enough to really understand what goes on and to take into account that this really affects my life. Although somber, he speech was eloquently given. He is a great speaker, and I do hope that he has many great plans for our country.
Congratulations, Mr. President.
How great is this picture?
Thursday, January 15, 2009
"so right, I made you a list..."
These are all the books I read between May and December. I read books before that, but never kept track of them, so I really don't know how many books I read overall in 2008 (plus it's hard to read a lot during school when you're too busy reading (or pretending to read) textbooks).
1. "The Choice" by Nicholas Sparks
2. "Big Boned: A Heather Wells Mystery" by Meg Cabot
3. "Lock and Key" by Sarah Dessen
4. "Queen of Babble In the Big City" by Meg Cabot
5. "Forever In Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood" by Ann Brashares
6. "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert
7. "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
8. "New Moon" by Stephenie Meyer
9. "Eclipse" by Stephenie Meyer
10. "Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer
11. "Devilish" by Maureen Johnson
12. "Paper Towns" by John Green
13. "Girl at Sea" by Maureen Johnson
14. "The Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks
15. "Let It Snow" by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
16. "Multiple Blessings" by Jon and Kate Gosselin and Beth Carson
17. "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
18. "Suite Scarlett" by Maureen Johnson
19. "The Friday Night Knitting Club" by kate Jacobs
20. "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" by J.K. Rowling
If you have any suggestions of good books to read for 2009, please leave them in comments and hopefully I will be able to read them. =)
<3 kristin
1. "The Choice" by Nicholas Sparks
2. "Big Boned: A Heather Wells Mystery" by Meg Cabot
3. "Lock and Key" by Sarah Dessen
4. "Queen of Babble In the Big City" by Meg Cabot
5. "Forever In Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood" by Ann Brashares
6. "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert
7. "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
8. "New Moon" by Stephenie Meyer
9. "Eclipse" by Stephenie Meyer
10. "Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer
11. "Devilish" by Maureen Johnson
12. "Paper Towns" by John Green
13. "Girl at Sea" by Maureen Johnson
14. "The Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks
15. "Let It Snow" by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
16. "Multiple Blessings" by Jon and Kate Gosselin and Beth Carson
17. "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
18. "Suite Scarlett" by Maureen Johnson
19. "The Friday Night Knitting Club" by kate Jacobs
20. "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" by J.K. Rowling
If you have any suggestions of good books to read for 2009, please leave them in comments and hopefully I will be able to read them. =)
<3 kristin
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
raise your glass and we'll have a cheer, my dear acquaintance, a happy new year
2008 was a year of firsts and a year of change in my life. Here’s a somewhat brief re-cap, and I hope that 2009 will be just as, if not more, awesome than 2008. Here’s to the New Year!
January 2008
Well, for one thing, I started this blog. It seemed to be the trend among some friends, and I’m kind of a trend follower, so I hopped on board and created takeyourtimelove.blogspot.com. Even though I had gone to the Open House for my drum corps in Nov. 2007, my first real camp weekend with them was in January due to other rehearsal conflicts in Dec. 2007. I also started my last semester of college, which was bittersweet. I was glad that I would be graduating in just 4 short months, but I was sad to be leaving it all behind – the classes I’d taken, the friends I’d made, the activities I’d participated in, the clubs I’d joined, and the memories I’d made.
February 2008
I celebrated 1 year of working at my job by….you guessed it, working at my job. Seeing as I hate football, I worked Superbowl Sunday so my co-workers had the opportunity to party it up. It’s great though, I love the place, I love my co-workers, and I love the learning experiences. My best friend Amanda and I formed “The Fuzzy Apples,” our Moldy Peaches cover band. We did one actual “cover” – “Anyone Else But You,” and you can find it on my MySpace. My acapella group sang the national anthem for the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum, which was pretty freakin’ sweet. I also cheered on my brother in his band Happy Anarchy at one of the several shows I made it to that year.
March 2008
I went on my first ever Midnight Run with Campus Ministries, and the experience was empowering. It was awesome to be doing something positive and helping people who really needed it. I seized the opportunity to go to London with my college on Spring Break with some of my best friends. It was one of the most amazing experiences ever, and I would go back in a heartbeat (especially since I never got to ride the London Eye). Amanda and I paid homage to Abbey Road and the Abbey Road Studios. Taking close to 1,000 pictures, I captured the memories and will cherish them forever. Apparently I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows again in March, because I specifically pointed out on facebook that Harry, Ron, and Hermione disapparate to “Tottenham Court Road” and I mention that I went to Tottenham Court Road in London.
April 2008
April was the start of regular drum corps camp weekends. We had camps every weekend to prepare us for our competitive season. April was also tough school-wise. This month is when I wrote the bulk of my final paper on Williams Syndrome for my major, even though I had been working on it and researching for it since January. I also got my first sunburn of 2008 in April – because of drum corps. My friend Danielle and I were interviewed by a reporter about Catholicism and religion at our school for Newsday which went along with all the hype about Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States coming up. My friends emailed me one morning to say that my face was on the front page of Newsday.com, and later that day a family friend called to say my picture was in the newspaper. That was a pretty cool feeling! April was pretty busy – after a stressful day of classes and tests (and having my picture taken wearing a hospital gown for some new Music Therapy promo pamphlets), some friends and I made regular visits to the beach, just walking through the sand, dipping our feet into the very cold ocean, and having our last laughs together before some of us (one of them being me) would be leaving. At the end of April, I played my last concert Percussion Ensemble concert at college and had a pretty big solo in one of the pieces. Oddly enough, it was the first major song I learned during my lessons at school, and the last piece I played with the ensemble.
May 2008
May was pretty crazy. I had been practicing since September 2007 for my Senior Recital, and it finally arrived May 7th. I split the recital with my friend Keith who played trumpet. After many lessons, rehearsals, freak-out moments, planning, and promoting, it turned out to be an awesome night. Some of my family and close friends were able to make the special event, and that meant the world to me that they were there. I also had my last choir concert as a student (and I say that because I still sing with them!). The last couple of days I was furiously writing (read: typing) my final paper. I had already presented the topic to my class and got that over with, but as soon as I printed it out, stapled it, and handed it over to my professor, it felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I was finally able to graduate. And graduate I did! I was so glad that my brother, sister, parents, 2 aunts, 1 uncle, and 3 cousins were there to share my special day with me. I also celebrated my 22nd birthday in May. My best friend Lisa and I decided that we would treat ourselves (in honor of graduation) and go to Disney some day, so we started saving up for this joyous vacation. I treated Mom (and Dad) to a Mets game on Mother’s Day. Mom and I got free pink Mets hats! I also started my reading kick – after graduating, I had real time to read books that I enjoy, and ended up reading 20 books between May and December. Drum corps season probably officially started in May. I mean, I marched 4 parades in 2 days. I’d say that’s definitely a start. Finishing up May, my cousin Emily had her senior prom, so mom and I went to see her in her wild dress and took pictures, then saw her off to the prom.
June 2008
I officially became a college graduate – my diploma came in the mail. My dad then treated me to a special college diploma frame. It was really cute and also really nostalgic for me and Dad to go back to school and go to the bookstore to pick it out. I saw Adele in concert in June, and I went by myself because a friend couldn’t get a ticket in time. I had never been to a concert alone, but seeing Adele was worth it. I was so tuned into the music and the mood she was setting that I forgot I was by myself until I had to walk to the train at the end of the night. June was also the start of my competitive season with the drum corps. I had my first competition in Wildwood, NJ on June 21st, a show that I will probably NEVER forget. I went to another Mets game with my best friend Kelly, which was fun times, although it was the last game I went to, and they lost. I’m still not sure how I feel about Citifield and the fact that Shea Stadium is no more.
July 2008
I went to my friend Cathleen’s wedding on the 4th of July, but had to cut the reception short in order to play a show with the drum corps and then travel overnight to another competition. We won our first DCA contest in Rochester, NY! July was full of competitions, I also worked a lot of shifts during the week while my co-workers did other fun cool things, and then I got to do my fun cool things on the weekends with drum corps. I bought a new guitar (birthday/graduation present from my godmother) and I am absolutely in love with this acoustic guitar. If you want to see pictures, ask me or look at my facebook. You’ll find it….it’s red. <3 My best friend Caitlin came with me to buy it, and she bought an electric guitar. We then decided to sit in Washington Square Park and jam, writing songs about the half-naked guy lounging around. A group of people came by and asked to take a picture with us because they were on a scavenger hunt and one of the things was “take a picture with street musicians.” Then I started writing a love song to a Metrocard.
August 2008
The start of August began with a week and a half long vacation from drum corps, which was really nice and very much needed. I went to my first Nerdfighter gathering with my best friend Caitlin and got to meet and hang out with Hank Green (international YouTube star and environmentalist) and Maureen Johnson (young adult author and fellow Nerdfighter!). After the mini-vacation from drum corps, I was back in the swing of things and competing in more competitions. I watched the Olympics, but more specifically, watched Michael Phelps win 8 gold medals (and watched him break records….damn that boy is fast). I landed a percussion gig playing in the pit of an off off-broadway Childrens Theatre show that started playing in September. My aunt and two of my cousins came to visit from Austria for a few weeks, which was really nice! I experienced “Thursday Before Finals” and “Friday Before Finals,” eating at a kick-ass barbeque restaurant called Dinosaur and rehearsing with the drumline and pit by the river. The last two days of August were spent in intense drum corps rehearsals and competitions. I played in my first DCA Pre-lims and Finals performances, which is a pretty amazing experience. After listening to the recordings and watching the videos, I have concluded that Pre-lims was a better performance. We rounded out the season by winning 5th in the World, and I am proud to say that I am a Caballero. The experience was so worth it and the friendships I’ve made will probably last forever.
September 2008
September was busy and not so busy all at the same time. My cousin Barbara was still visiting from Austria (my aunt and other cousin had plans to leave earlier) so we did a lot of hanging out together and catching up. I had performances for The Selfish Giant, the childrens theatre show I was playing percussion for. It was a weird feeling to not be going off to drum corps every weekend after being there practically every weekend since April. I went to my first Wizard Rock show, which was pretty spectacular, and got to meet Lauren Fairweather of the Moaning Myrtles (and fiveawesomegirls). I also discovered some amazing music at the show. I was also on a big yodeling kick for awhile….I really wanted to be able to yodel. I still haven’t mastered it yet. I hit the virtual pavement and started looking for full-time jobs, and had my first two interviews, but they were not as successful as I’d hoped they would be.
October 2008
One of the major events in October, because there are only a few: the Paper Towns Release Party. One of my favorite authors (and ½ of my favorite channel to watch on YouTube) released his new book and had a release party at Barnes and Noble on October 16th. Caitlin and I were able to go and met a few Nerdfighters. We hung out, listened to John Green talk about the book and other meaningful topics, and listened to some great music by his brother Hank, and Liane Graham (of the fiveawesomegirls). I also received my Cabs jacket, which I worked so hard to earn, and I am so proud to wear it. My friend Anna and I did Cabs 2009 recruiting at a local drum corps show. I also saw Hanson twice in October – at Nokia Theatre with best friends Kelly and Amanda, and at the Chance with my best friend Liz. Those concerts were amazing, and I had such a great time singing and dancing with my friends. My aunt Marieanne came to visit again for a week and to be with Oma, which was a great help. One of my favorite events of October was the recording my acapella group did. We recorded our first Christmas album, and I’m really proud of what we accomplished, and I’m so proud to be a part of a great group of girls. They are all wonderful singers and even more wonderful friends.
November 2008
I voted in my 2nd Presidential Election, and am pretty pleased to say I helped elect the next President. With Oma’s health not in the best shape, I helped out a lot around her house, doing little chores and running errands for her. I grew a lot closer to Oma in the weeks that I spent with her between October and now. We’ve always been close growing up when she used to watch after me before and after school, and it was a bit surreal to have a sort of role-reversal, where I was taking care of her. I love my Oma and I was blessed to not have the full-time job yet and to be able to be around and help out if and when she needed me. I also went to my first art show! That was a pretty cool experience, and Serena’s artwork was simply gorgeous. I loved walking around the room and absorbing the pieces, looking at all the little details that help make the big picture. Caitlin and I also went to Westport for the Tour de Nerdfighting. The night was made of awesome and it was filled with happiness and happy dances. I met a bunch of cool people and got to see John Green for the second time and Hank Green for the third. November was also home to the annual Plymouth Weekend, and I was so excited to go see my dad march with the alumni corps! I was also happy to see my sister and brother-in-law and have our mini Thanksgiving dinner!
December 2008
December did not start off well. I lost my hard drive on my computer and didn’t get it all fixed and completely better until the end of December (thanks Adam for your help on that!). Because of that fiasco, I learned a lot of valuable lessons. My college’s (or should I say alma mater’s) choir had their Christmas concert and I was glad to be a part of it, singing with the main choir and with the acapella group. We debuted our holiday CD and made a bunch of sales! My cousin Barbara came to visit again for a week to spend with family and to see her friend. It was great to have her around for the week – we went shopping and sight-seeing in the city, and went to see Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular, an NYC must for the holidays. I also booked a vacation to visit my sister and brother-in-law (and nephew-dog!) for January. I made a crazy amount of cookies with Mom (and some with Oma!) and prepared for the holidays, my favorite time of year. We celebrated Christmas at Oma’s, a long standing tradition, and my sister and brother-in-law (and nephew-dog Keegan!) came to visit for a few days. It was great to spend time with them and meet Keegan for the first time. I do believe he and I are best friends now. I secured another gig with the childrens’ theatre and will be playing in Treasure Island in February. Finally, I rang in the new year with mom and dad at home, and made resolutions for an awesome 2009. In the end, I read 20 books between May and December, and have set a 50-book challenge for ’09. I’m looking forward to accomplishing my goal!
January 2008
Well, for one thing, I started this blog. It seemed to be the trend among some friends, and I’m kind of a trend follower, so I hopped on board and created takeyourtimelove.blogspot.com. Even though I had gone to the Open House for my drum corps in Nov. 2007, my first real camp weekend with them was in January due to other rehearsal conflicts in Dec. 2007. I also started my last semester of college, which was bittersweet. I was glad that I would be graduating in just 4 short months, but I was sad to be leaving it all behind – the classes I’d taken, the friends I’d made, the activities I’d participated in, the clubs I’d joined, and the memories I’d made.
February 2008
I celebrated 1 year of working at my job by….you guessed it, working at my job. Seeing as I hate football, I worked Superbowl Sunday so my co-workers had the opportunity to party it up. It’s great though, I love the place, I love my co-workers, and I love the learning experiences. My best friend Amanda and I formed “The Fuzzy Apples,” our Moldy Peaches cover band. We did one actual “cover” – “Anyone Else But You,” and you can find it on my MySpace. My acapella group sang the national anthem for the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum, which was pretty freakin’ sweet. I also cheered on my brother in his band Happy Anarchy at one of the several shows I made it to that year.
March 2008
I went on my first ever Midnight Run with Campus Ministries, and the experience was empowering. It was awesome to be doing something positive and helping people who really needed it. I seized the opportunity to go to London with my college on Spring Break with some of my best friends. It was one of the most amazing experiences ever, and I would go back in a heartbeat (especially since I never got to ride the London Eye). Amanda and I paid homage to Abbey Road and the Abbey Road Studios. Taking close to 1,000 pictures, I captured the memories and will cherish them forever. Apparently I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows again in March, because I specifically pointed out on facebook that Harry, Ron, and Hermione disapparate to “Tottenham Court Road” and I mention that I went to Tottenham Court Road in London.
April 2008
April was the start of regular drum corps camp weekends. We had camps every weekend to prepare us for our competitive season. April was also tough school-wise. This month is when I wrote the bulk of my final paper on Williams Syndrome for my major, even though I had been working on it and researching for it since January. I also got my first sunburn of 2008 in April – because of drum corps. My friend Danielle and I were interviewed by a reporter about Catholicism and religion at our school for Newsday which went along with all the hype about Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States coming up. My friends emailed me one morning to say that my face was on the front page of Newsday.com, and later that day a family friend called to say my picture was in the newspaper. That was a pretty cool feeling! April was pretty busy – after a stressful day of classes and tests (and having my picture taken wearing a hospital gown for some new Music Therapy promo pamphlets), some friends and I made regular visits to the beach, just walking through the sand, dipping our feet into the very cold ocean, and having our last laughs together before some of us (one of them being me) would be leaving. At the end of April, I played my last concert Percussion Ensemble concert at college and had a pretty big solo in one of the pieces. Oddly enough, it was the first major song I learned during my lessons at school, and the last piece I played with the ensemble.
May 2008
May was pretty crazy. I had been practicing since September 2007 for my Senior Recital, and it finally arrived May 7th. I split the recital with my friend Keith who played trumpet. After many lessons, rehearsals, freak-out moments, planning, and promoting, it turned out to be an awesome night. Some of my family and close friends were able to make the special event, and that meant the world to me that they were there. I also had my last choir concert as a student (and I say that because I still sing with them!). The last couple of days I was furiously writing (read: typing) my final paper. I had already presented the topic to my class and got that over with, but as soon as I printed it out, stapled it, and handed it over to my professor, it felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I was finally able to graduate. And graduate I did! I was so glad that my brother, sister, parents, 2 aunts, 1 uncle, and 3 cousins were there to share my special day with me. I also celebrated my 22nd birthday in May. My best friend Lisa and I decided that we would treat ourselves (in honor of graduation) and go to Disney some day, so we started saving up for this joyous vacation. I treated Mom (and Dad) to a Mets game on Mother’s Day. Mom and I got free pink Mets hats! I also started my reading kick – after graduating, I had real time to read books that I enjoy, and ended up reading 20 books between May and December. Drum corps season probably officially started in May. I mean, I marched 4 parades in 2 days. I’d say that’s definitely a start. Finishing up May, my cousin Emily had her senior prom, so mom and I went to see her in her wild dress and took pictures, then saw her off to the prom.
June 2008
I officially became a college graduate – my diploma came in the mail. My dad then treated me to a special college diploma frame. It was really cute and also really nostalgic for me and Dad to go back to school and go to the bookstore to pick it out. I saw Adele in concert in June, and I went by myself because a friend couldn’t get a ticket in time. I had never been to a concert alone, but seeing Adele was worth it. I was so tuned into the music and the mood she was setting that I forgot I was by myself until I had to walk to the train at the end of the night. June was also the start of my competitive season with the drum corps. I had my first competition in Wildwood, NJ on June 21st, a show that I will probably NEVER forget. I went to another Mets game with my best friend Kelly, which was fun times, although it was the last game I went to, and they lost. I’m still not sure how I feel about Citifield and the fact that Shea Stadium is no more.
July 2008
I went to my friend Cathleen’s wedding on the 4th of July, but had to cut the reception short in order to play a show with the drum corps and then travel overnight to another competition. We won our first DCA contest in Rochester, NY! July was full of competitions, I also worked a lot of shifts during the week while my co-workers did other fun cool things, and then I got to do my fun cool things on the weekends with drum corps. I bought a new guitar (birthday/graduation present from my godmother) and I am absolutely in love with this acoustic guitar. If you want to see pictures, ask me or look at my facebook. You’ll find it….it’s red. <3 My best friend Caitlin came with me to buy it, and she bought an electric guitar. We then decided to sit in Washington Square Park and jam, writing songs about the half-naked guy lounging around. A group of people came by and asked to take a picture with us because they were on a scavenger hunt and one of the things was “take a picture with street musicians.” Then I started writing a love song to a Metrocard.
August 2008
The start of August began with a week and a half long vacation from drum corps, which was really nice and very much needed. I went to my first Nerdfighter gathering with my best friend Caitlin and got to meet and hang out with Hank Green (international YouTube star and environmentalist) and Maureen Johnson (young adult author and fellow Nerdfighter!). After the mini-vacation from drum corps, I was back in the swing of things and competing in more competitions. I watched the Olympics, but more specifically, watched Michael Phelps win 8 gold medals (and watched him break records….damn that boy is fast). I landed a percussion gig playing in the pit of an off off-broadway Childrens Theatre show that started playing in September. My aunt and two of my cousins came to visit from Austria for a few weeks, which was really nice! I experienced “Thursday Before Finals” and “Friday Before Finals,” eating at a kick-ass barbeque restaurant called Dinosaur and rehearsing with the drumline and pit by the river. The last two days of August were spent in intense drum corps rehearsals and competitions. I played in my first DCA Pre-lims and Finals performances, which is a pretty amazing experience. After listening to the recordings and watching the videos, I have concluded that Pre-lims was a better performance. We rounded out the season by winning 5th in the World, and I am proud to say that I am a Caballero. The experience was so worth it and the friendships I’ve made will probably last forever.
September 2008
September was busy and not so busy all at the same time. My cousin Barbara was still visiting from Austria (my aunt and other cousin had plans to leave earlier) so we did a lot of hanging out together and catching up. I had performances for The Selfish Giant, the childrens theatre show I was playing percussion for. It was a weird feeling to not be going off to drum corps every weekend after being there practically every weekend since April. I went to my first Wizard Rock show, which was pretty spectacular, and got to meet Lauren Fairweather of the Moaning Myrtles (and fiveawesomegirls). I also discovered some amazing music at the show. I was also on a big yodeling kick for awhile….I really wanted to be able to yodel. I still haven’t mastered it yet. I hit the virtual pavement and started looking for full-time jobs, and had my first two interviews, but they were not as successful as I’d hoped they would be.
October 2008
One of the major events in October, because there are only a few: the Paper Towns Release Party. One of my favorite authors (and ½ of my favorite channel to watch on YouTube) released his new book and had a release party at Barnes and Noble on October 16th. Caitlin and I were able to go and met a few Nerdfighters. We hung out, listened to John Green talk about the book and other meaningful topics, and listened to some great music by his brother Hank, and Liane Graham (of the fiveawesomegirls). I also received my Cabs jacket, which I worked so hard to earn, and I am so proud to wear it. My friend Anna and I did Cabs 2009 recruiting at a local drum corps show. I also saw Hanson twice in October – at Nokia Theatre with best friends Kelly and Amanda, and at the Chance with my best friend Liz. Those concerts were amazing, and I had such a great time singing and dancing with my friends. My aunt Marieanne came to visit again for a week and to be with Oma, which was a great help. One of my favorite events of October was the recording my acapella group did. We recorded our first Christmas album, and I’m really proud of what we accomplished, and I’m so proud to be a part of a great group of girls. They are all wonderful singers and even more wonderful friends.
November 2008
I voted in my 2nd Presidential Election, and am pretty pleased to say I helped elect the next President. With Oma’s health not in the best shape, I helped out a lot around her house, doing little chores and running errands for her. I grew a lot closer to Oma in the weeks that I spent with her between October and now. We’ve always been close growing up when she used to watch after me before and after school, and it was a bit surreal to have a sort of role-reversal, where I was taking care of her. I love my Oma and I was blessed to not have the full-time job yet and to be able to be around and help out if and when she needed me. I also went to my first art show! That was a pretty cool experience, and Serena’s artwork was simply gorgeous. I loved walking around the room and absorbing the pieces, looking at all the little details that help make the big picture. Caitlin and I also went to Westport for the Tour de Nerdfighting. The night was made of awesome and it was filled with happiness and happy dances. I met a bunch of cool people and got to see John Green for the second time and Hank Green for the third. November was also home to the annual Plymouth Weekend, and I was so excited to go see my dad march with the alumni corps! I was also happy to see my sister and brother-in-law and have our mini Thanksgiving dinner!
December 2008
December did not start off well. I lost my hard drive on my computer and didn’t get it all fixed and completely better until the end of December (thanks Adam for your help on that!). Because of that fiasco, I learned a lot of valuable lessons. My college’s (or should I say alma mater’s) choir had their Christmas concert and I was glad to be a part of it, singing with the main choir and with the acapella group. We debuted our holiday CD and made a bunch of sales! My cousin Barbara came to visit again for a week to spend with family and to see her friend. It was great to have her around for the week – we went shopping and sight-seeing in the city, and went to see Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular, an NYC must for the holidays. I also booked a vacation to visit my sister and brother-in-law (and nephew-dog!) for January. I made a crazy amount of cookies with Mom (and some with Oma!) and prepared for the holidays, my favorite time of year. We celebrated Christmas at Oma’s, a long standing tradition, and my sister and brother-in-law (and nephew-dog Keegan!) came to visit for a few days. It was great to spend time with them and meet Keegan for the first time. I do believe he and I are best friends now. I secured another gig with the childrens’ theatre and will be playing in Treasure Island in February. Finally, I rang in the new year with mom and dad at home, and made resolutions for an awesome 2009. In the end, I read 20 books between May and December, and have set a 50-book challenge for ’09. I’m looking forward to accomplishing my goal!
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