so long sweet summer.....

Wow has it been a while since I have updated this! what a whirlwind summer has been!!! i would give you a month-by-month recap..but its hard to remember waaaaay back to June. can you hear the gears turning yet????

so i guess here it goes.

back in June, i rediscovered my love for Josh Groban. I remembered why I would always stay up late to watch Conan O'Brien. I worked like a slave. I needed a vacation and didn't get one (LOL). I got frustrated with my "online banking" (which really isn't online). I thought about going to summerfest (alas, i didn't make it there). I went shopping with Mallory in Kenosha(think of it as my mini-vacay). I saw the Hangover and laughed profusely! went to a few brewers games and had fun! I had dinner and caught up with an old friend who I haven't seen in a few years! I went mini golfing with Amy where we learned that we should not be professional mini golfers HAHA!! I made it through my first major Severe storm in the new apartment. I bailed out sewer water from my sisters basement. I took my family to their first brewers game at miller park (which they won!).

in July, i worked some more. i contemplated buying an autoharp (but didn't). i worked some more. I became an underground professional chauffeur. I fell in love with the Fray all over again. I had a Harry Potter marathon. I survived Flute camp! haha! I went to my first concert on the square in Madison. I decided that I needed to loosen up and live life a little. I got to know some of my friends even better. I had a blast at middle school band camp and had some of the most fun kids ever! I survived and enjoyed(for the most part) a brewers game and tailgating with the band camp crew! I learned a lot working high school week and got to know even more of my friends better by having some great late night chats and frosty freeze runs!!! I survived eating at esker for three weeks(i should get an award or something HAHA!!!) I had fun times with Kristen and Nate including brats, Olive garden, exclusive company, target shenans, and cake and shakes at coldstone.

in august, i began to work even more again. i got a raise that i didn't even know about. I am helping out in Sun Prairie working with the PMMS band. they had Sam Hazo compose a piece based off of a Georgia O'Keefe painting. Pretty SWEET!!! I was/am obsessed with student teaching(more about that later). I became determined to find teacher clothes and I have been pretty successful!!! I remembered not to sweat the small things in life, and to remember to find the beauty in the world. I did some growing up. I went to a brewers game (the first one that i have been to that they have lost). I attended one of my friend's wedding (congrats Nicole!!). I went to see Phantom of the Opera( absolutely AMAZING!!! i died and went to heaven that afternoon!) I got to hang out with my amazing friends. shopping and noodles with Mallory. Movies with Emily. Helping Kristen and Nate decorate her classroom in Baraboo (possible highlight. I love arts and crafts!!!) Visiting Natalie in McFarland and going shopping! oh how i missed that girl!!! And i had a lovely dinner with Dan and caught up with each other after all this time...

so now that you're caught up here's some more:

Student teaching is right around the corner. I'm excited/nervous/scared/anxious all rolled into one. It looks like its gonna be a great experience, it's just gonna be different than what I'm used to. Besides that, I have a lot of things to look forward to, including: WMEA state convention, Midwest, graduation, solo/ensemble judge certification, and then looking for a job. a REAL job. how exciting!!!

so I think for now, this is where I will leave you. there will for sure be many more stories to tell thanks to student teaching, and stay tuned because I will try and keep this updated!!!

Happy rest of summer and start of school!!!!
~Katie

PHEEEEEEEW!!!!!!

HOLY COW!!!!! my recital is over with. its a little bittersweet(never thought i would actually say that). On one note, i am elated that it is over with and that it went well, on the other hand, i am sad that it is over and kinda want to do it again!!! it was fun to play for people. I woke up saturday morning after having a terrible dream(more like nightmare) where i slept through my recital. so i abruptly turned over and checked the time to see that it was only 9am.(PHEW!!!) so i got ready, my sister did my hair, and we were off and ready to go. i ate my banana(as per to calm my stomach down) and i think i handled the day well. it helped to have so many of my friends there. (nothing like calming your nerves by joking about a tuba bra!!!). everything went smoothly. i had serious dry mouth going on in the first piece, and i kicked myself for not taking my water on stage with me. but i still made it through. I was soo happy to see that people came to hear me play.(only because i have never been the most confident hornist in the world). It means so much to me that they came out to support me!!! THe quintet was awesome. i think i even made my DAD tear up. mission accomplished!!! My only regret is that Mr. K couldnt be here to see how far i have come (even though i have a funny hunch that he was listening.) so in honor of the canadian brass.. enjoy the lovely picture...

~Katie

this one goes out to my green lake peeps...

SO....long time..here goes an update...

I think I have finally realized beyond a doubt that this is what I want to do. I was at a conference in Green Lake last weekend called Next Direction for Band. I was a counselor along with 4 of my friends for the camp where high school kids who are interesting in possibly pursuing music as a career would come and learn more about hte profession. Not only did i get to work with some really cool kids, i got to work with Quincy Hilliard, one of the best educators and composers in the band world. I learned alot as a music ed student, but I also learned alot as a person. I learned that I have some of the greatest friends in the world. I also learned that I am just as valuable as any other person, that i should take pride in my playing, and play with confidence. idk why it took so long to click. it has taken over 4 years for me to realize that im just as good even if i am not sitting first. i would not trade what happened this past weekend for anything, my experience was great based on the great people i was with and i am thankful for it.

my recital is in two weeks. woo dang...i cannot wait for it to be over... i have been having the best lessons now that i have ever had in my life. i hate to think what i could have done had i worked this hard all four years of school, so i will not dwell on it. needless to say, i am looking forward to this semester being done and starting to student teach. I am ready to move on with my life.

in that respect, i hope that things start looking up for everyone. it has been a rough week, and i sure hope that everyone is doing fine.

so i was having trouble thinking of something to give up for lent. the only thing i came up with is to stop having a negative view of my life. try to see things more "glass half full." my life is pretty good, and it could be way worse. so if you hear me down in the dumps, yell at me and tell me to smile.

blah blah blahty blah...

So it has been waaaay too long since I have written here. Another semester of school has come and past, and graduation is looming closer. as 2008 comes to a close, here are a few highlights from the last few months...

first off, shop ko is still my place of employment...I cannot stand it there, but yet, i still dont quit?? why because i love some of the people i work with, and because the little money that it does pay me, is better than no money at all... i have been on leave since the end of august/beginning of september. i have worked twice now that i am on break, and i already dont want to work there anymore.

I worked again with the Marching Knights as a visual or drill consultant.( i really dont remember what my official title was, all i know is that it sounds more important than it actually is). It was definitely interesting this year...but fun nonetheless...It somewhat quenches my thirst for marching band...

school was a big bitch this semester...i had a full credit load, two methods classes which came as a packaged deal with two field studies. General music methods was a blast. I learned so much in that class, it made me feel geared up for teaching general music. Instrumental methods was hell in itself...caused unnecessary stress in my life. absolutely hands down, worst class i have had in college. the field study was a blast, kept me sane. I have two semesters left at whitewater. pretty scary...

life in general has been interesting. I'm beginning to wonder who my true friends are. I have been through a lot of drama with people and quite honestly, i am amazed at the petty things that people get mad about. Ridiculous!

Sadly, I think I have also gotten to the point where home just doesn't feel like home anymore. If i was financially stable, i would totally live on my own. i just dont feel like i live at home anymore...especially since i can count on two hands how many times i was actually home this semester. because im student teaching, i decided to stay in whitewater for the whole next year...I'm pretty sure that the day i told my mom that i didn't want to live at home that semester that i student teach, her heart probably broke. i hate to do that to her, i know it would save money. but being home just drives me insane sometimes!!!

the next semester ahead will be quite busy as well, thanks to a full credit load again, and a little something i like to call my senior recital. I am getting ready for this wonderful, yet stressful event. Its like my last hurrah at whitewater. So im diving in headfirst without testing the waters. LOL!!!

well i think i have rambled enough now to put you to sleep. but hopefully this gives you a little update and insight into what i have been doing for the last few months..LOL...

one of my resolutions for hte new year will be to keep this more accurately updated...if there is anyone out there who is really reading this...

one of those days....

so today was just not a good day. I'm still bummed from band camp being over. i miss it because its what i was to do, its what i love, and i love all the people that i work with.
I'm going through one of those i hate work days...which is true.. i think i finally have outgrown shopko and need to find a different place to work for now. i still am working with oak creek this season, but not as much as i would like to.
I also am going through one of those 'i have no friends' phases. no one returns my calls, or my messages, and i just feel like I'm alone right now. with no one to turn to. i feel quite alone at the moment, and i hate feeling that way.
i still have no boyfriend, and i try to tell myself that i am okay with that, but in the back of my mind, i still wonder what i am doing wrong. i just wish someone would tell me or help me figure out what is wrong with me. or if someone out there does like me, then god damn it, say something so i don't think I'm such a loner/loser.
with august right around the corner, i am excited for classes to start because then my normal schedule will kick in. sad i know. but i am excited for my last full year of school. i cant believe it. i am a senior, where did the time go?!?!?! this year better be fun and full of excitement, because i want to make it a year to remember.

i should probably go to bed now, so give me a buzz if you wanna help or hang out or just talk.

I'm going on and I'm prepared to go it alone......

So yes it is almost midnight, and I most likely shouldn't be writing this. I have had a lot of time to reflect and I really just thought I would put some of my thoughts down on here.

First off, I think its surprising to look back and see who you were friends with a couple years back, and to see that you really aren't friends with them now. People who you thought, were your friends, apparently just don't care and refuse to keep in touch. There are people where now I wonder how we were ever friends in the first place. Its amazing to see how I have grown as an individual . I have to say that I am surprised that one of my best friends is someone I haven't known for long. I also think that its funny how you can know someone your whole life, but learn to appreciate them later in life. I would have never guessed that we would be friends and you know who you are.

and now there is one person that i have grown to probably like more than a friend, and he most likely knows about it, yet nothing has come of it. idk if it is because of my personality, my looks(or lack there of), or other things. the one roadblock that was there is out of the picture now so i have no clue what will happen, if anything will happen. i hate to keep kidding myself that something will happen because it most likely wont. and i love that we are friends, i just sometimes wonder if we could be something more.

on a happier note, i somehow managed to pull off a 3.8 GPA this past semester. I was pretty happy about that. even though the first words out of my moms mouth were, you couldn't have worked harder?. PUH LEASE woman! but i am starting to think about where i want to student teach and I'm starting to realize that i will be done with school soon and working in the 'real world' or at least i am hoping i will be.

you have stolen my heart....

So, I went yesterday to see the new Maid of Honor movie. It was such a great movie!!! I really liked it, but the whole time I was watching it, I kept thinking, Why can't that be me????? I know this doesnt come as a surprise to anyone, but I really am sick of being single. I want to know why I am stuck alone. I tried to be open and tell someone how I feel, but I really didnt get anywhere. I just really want someone to like me for me, and where the hell are they at?

I really think that i need to stop watching romantic comedies...because they just make me think about how my life kinda sucks....

exams are coming up..and i have no desire or motivation to actually do anything.... what a great combination!


hope every one else's exams go well!!

~Katie