rockin robyn.

Smoked Ham Omelet in Ramekins

2011-12-28T10:18:00.013-05:00

For Christmas I received 5 beautiful little ramekins that caused extreme joy and made my mind start to race with all the things I could possibly make.I wanted to make something quick and easy with things I had already and decided to use leftovers from Christmas. I looked for a recipe that was simple and had ham in it.After a little searching, I found this one and with some minor adjustments, I made it my own. I didn't measure everything so the measurements listed are as close as I could get for those who need specific amounts.

Smoked Ham Omelet in Ramekins

modified from mycookingblog.com

makes up 4 4oz ramekins

3/4 cup of chopped onion
1 cup of chopped broccoli
2 small to medium slices of smoked ham
4 eggs
1/4 cup of milk
2 tbsp of freshly grated parmesan
1/2 tsp Garlic salt or powder
1/4 tsp of Salt
Dash of pepper
1 tbsp of olive oil
1 tbsp of unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter the 4 ramekins and dust with your freshly grated (or not) parmesan cheese)

Heat olive oil and saute onion and broccoli until onion is cooked. You do not want to brown it.

Add your garlic salt or powder and diced ham. Mix until warmed through.

Pour the mixture into each of the ramekins equally.

Wisk eggs, milk, some parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste together and pour over the mixture.

Be careful to not overfill the ramekins or they will overflow while baking.

Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until the top has browned and or a tooth pick comes out clean.

Top with more parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

It's official.

2010-12-10T09:20:00.004-05:00

Robyn VanLeigh Photography

After a lot of trying to figure out how to make this work, I've finally done it. It's real. It's happened. I can't believe it. For years I've loved photography, but with music being my focus and 'main talent,' I've never really shared this hobby with anyone because well, I wondered if anyone would take me seriously. Plus, I've not had the time to really sit down and do anything with it or the capability. But over the past few months certain things have changed and made it possible for me to do it for real. So check out my stuff and like the facebook page: Robyn VanLeigh Photography Facebook

One more day

2010-08-17T09:59:00.007-04:00

Today is my last day of freedom before I have to go back to the madness that is school. I remember 4 years ago and how I didn't know what I was going to do, where I wanted to be, and was still recovering from a broken heart. I would never have seen myself where I am now and the person I am today. I am so blessed to have the knowledge of the gospel and that my heavenly father loves me unconditionally. That he is guiding me in every way possible, but that I have to be ready and willing to listen and do. It is funny how every time I try to do something that I shouldn't be, something happens that makes me not able to do it or I suffer pretty ridiculous consequences that involve stomach aches and headaches. It is amazing how much more simple my life would be if I would just do what I'm supposed to, without questions and without objections. Someday I'll find the balance, maybe when I'm 60, but until then, I just have to keep truckin on through it all.

. . . . . .

I've had a pretty eventful last week before school begins again. I saw RENT! on Thursday with my dear friend Courtney and her mom. Friday, I spent the afternoon with my sister friend Julie as we hit up hobby lobby for some crafts and things to make invitations for our upcoming Christmas in August shindig. (Didn't julie do such a great job with decorating them. I was SO proud of her. She's becoming so domesticated.. : ) )

. . . . . . .

That evening was a YSA dance. Friday the 13th was that day so of course there had to be some dancing involved. (Jenny (lower left) is doing our signature dance move for 'lightning' during Selena Gomez's song Naturally.)

. . . . . . .

After I left the dance, I headed over to Brenda and Krista's house warming party. They just moved into their new apartment a couple of weeks ago and finally had it purdy to show off. We had a grand time with a surprise whoopie cake in honor of Krista's birthday, a bit of an old fashioned piano party, and just some good laughs. Jack FM was the playlist for the night and offered some fabulous sing-a-long music as well.

. . . . . . .

Saturday came quick and with that came White Water Rafting on the Nantahala. It was a LOOONNNG day but SOOOO much fun. It was my second time going and I loved it. Sunday was church followed by dinner at the Hobbs. Holli loves Cafe Rio, as do I. Holli made Barbacoa pork and I made the famous and absolutely amazing Tomatillo Ranch Dressing. (It's like if crack was a salad dressing, this would be it.) Unforuntately I don't have any pictures of the wonderful meal. But it was a great evening with friends, even if there was domestic violence going on next door (two people were taken away in handcuffs, long story), we all had a great night.

. . . . . . .

Yesterday I went to Dollywood spur of the moment with my friend Josh. It was a long day, but a lot of fun. At one point all the rides were shut down because of the weather, but it thankfully cleared up and we rode everything we could. The day ended with a root beer float from A&W.

. . . . . . .

So today I'm back into the grind of things after a crazy but fun-filled weekend. I am looking forward to school starting back, but I will miss many things like sleeping in, cooking anytime I want, watching doctor who for hours, reading, playing with lucy, blowing bubbles with austin, late night skyping with my friend conor in london, etc etc. As much as I will miss these things, I know I will have it back someday. And maybe even on an off day I'll get a chance to play ball with my dog. I'm truly hoping so.

Day One

2010-08-09T19:43:00.007-04:00

Day One Today is what I have jokingly called D-day for the past few weeks, but in all honesty, it's no where close. I just like to make and poke fun at the things I do. Today marks Day One of my Atkins - Induction Diet. I tried a low carb diet earlier in the summer and failed (I felt like I was starving myself. My fault, I wasn't following it how I should.) I never considered Atkins before and it was my friend, Pamela, who really turned me towards it and showed me what it was really all about. I first met with Pamela about 3 weeks ago at Barnes & Noble to discuss the Atkins diet. The new Atkins book had just come out and Pamela wanted to show me the book, website, and talk about when she did Atkins the first time back in 2005, 2006. It was great to have someone to talk to about my reasons for wanting to diet. It is not because I want to be skinny or have that 'hot bod,' yes, that's definitely a perk. But I wanted it, I needed it for my health. Over the past couple of years I've began to have blood sugar problems. They come and go, but they are definitely not something I want to deal with. Diabetes run in my family and I know that once you have them, there is no going back. So to fight it, I needed a change. And the change came in the form of the Atkins diet. Atkins offers a wider variety of options of food than my previous low-carb adventure and that's what really sold me on it. The other low-carb diet was extremely restrictive and I was never satisfied. I was basically starving myself. I did a lot of it myself by not intaking the amount of protein I needed to. Long story short, I'm on day one for the induction phase and so far, so good. I know the next few days will be rough, adjusting and such. But I have to keep the long term goal in mind and that goal is to be healthy. That is what matters the most. I will be keeping up with my healthy living on this blog. It will be a great way for me to share with other people what I'm doing so they understand and also, like a blog is supposed to be used for, be my journal for the journey. To start: I love pictures and with my new camera, I figured it was a great and fun way to be able to share the things I am doing and eating with everyone who reads this. This morning for Breakfast, I made Cheesy Spinach Eggs. Very quick and very easy. For someone who doesn't like eggs, this wouldn't be recommended obviously, but for ones who do, I highly suggest it. Note: I used frozen spinach rather than fresh spinach. Lasts longer and is cheaper for me. :) Lunch: Unfortunately I overshot at lunch and with my snack afterwards. I had half a greek salad (no croutons and dressing on the side) with a cup of chicken tortilla soup. The soup threw me way over my carb count for the day, but that's okay! It's day one and I'll learn what and what not to eat. My other overshot was stopping by Starbucks to get a Nonfat Iced Chai Tea Latte. Silly me for thinking getting Skim milk would be healthy. Would you believe that this drink is 44 net carbs? (Carbs-Fiber=Net Carbs) That is the last time I drink that for a LONG time. Dinner: I've been planning my first dinner on the first day since I went shopping on Saturday. I got a great deal on frozen shrimp and so I loaded up on the different sizes of Cooked Shrimp. I ended up making Lemon Garlic Shrimp with Stir fry veggies. The Lemon-Garlic sauce was WAY too lemony and when I tried to cut it with some sweetness, it just screwed it up even more. But it wasn't bad. I just know that the recipe I used was ridiculously wrong. Error when cooking is O.K. I'm learning to accept that. (I tend to be a perfectionist in the kitchen.) Note: Even with all the problems with the sauce, I still ate my share. There will be no dessert for me tonight as I've already overshot my quota for the day, plus it is late and eating later in my old age causes problems now. ;) I shall be splurging again tomorrow evening as I am having sushi with friends. So I am planning a very low carb breakfast and lunch so that the sushi doesn't totally kill me. Til next time xoxo Robs

Keep Calm and Carry On

2010-07-26T10:10:00.002-04:00

The newest additions to my room are these two wonderful wall hangings I found at Target for $5 a pop. Pretty sweet right?

To bucket or not to bucket

2010-07-26T00:52:00.004-04:00

So you know that movie the bucket list? I've never seen it, but I love the idea of a bucket list. Even if you don't get to do everything on your bucket list, at least you have little random joys in life to look forward to, right? So without further ado, this is the beginning of robyn's bucket list (in no particular order, of course.) #1. Buy a mini-cooper #2. Learn how to make homemade, from scratch, pasta #3. Adopt a dog from the pound #4. Walk in a Memory Walk for the Alzheimer's organization #5. Learn to play the cello Trust me, there will be way more to come. But for now, I believe those are goals that are not out of my reach and are realistic. The only one that concerns me is the mini-cooper, but I'm keepin' the faith.

I am what I might be, not what I am

2010-07-24T23:03:00.002-04:00

An excerpt from Elna Baker's book/memoir 'The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance.'

" On our last day of our safari, Pri, Alison, and I took an evening ride without Matt. We got to see elephants roaming in the wild, hippos, alligators, zebras, and lions. Toward the end of the tour, our guide got a call that someone had spotted a leopard, one of the rarest animals to see, as they're practically extinct. The driver stepped on the gas and we sailed trough the brush trying to catch up with the cat. When we found it, fifteen bumpy minutes later, we slowed to a halt. There it was, a leopard, sitting underneath a tree, not ten feet away. She carried herself differently than any animal I'd ever seen. Her neck was held high, her spots were lit up by the sun, and she was all at once powerful, wild, and unbroken. And while I know this is going to sound incredibly cheesy, and I'd sooner admit to holding a penis than to being sentimental - seeing that leopard revived me. It was so unquestioningly itself. Sort of the exact opposite of me. I'd been seesawing between two completely different lives. A year earlier, I'd moved to Utah in hopes that Hayes would marry me and make me a Mormon - forever. Now I was in Africa hoping that Matt would sleep with me, and make me a non-Mormon until I ceased to exist. Why couldn't I get either of them to go along with the plan? And more than that, why couldn't I get myself to go along with it? I'm doing this to myself, I realized. I'm refusing to choose which kind of person I want to be. I'm saying yes to way too many things. I love that moment of unlimited possibilities so much that I've accidentally built my entire life there. I've extended this place ten years further than it was ever supposed to go. I'm a twenty-six-year-old virgin for God's sake! While I still haven't thought of a word of this liminal place, the transition from the many to the one, from possibility to actuality - there is a name for someone like me. An observer that floats in between two worlds is called a ghost. It wasn't Matt's fault that things didn't work out. He didn't hate me or think I was repulsive. He'd simply ask me if I'd made up my mind. which I hadn't. So we were back at square one. And the thing is, I think I'm courageous for staying true to myself but really I'm deathly afraid of making the wrong choice. For good reason. Either way I choose, my life will become so much smaller. If I stop being Mormon, I won't be allowed to attend my brother's and sisters' weddings in any Mormon temple. I'll break my mother's heart and I won't be with my family for eternity. But if I stay in the church, I can't wear the sleeveless dress I wore last night, I'll have to say fetch instead of fuck, and I won't get to live the rest of my life with any of the men I love most. I've spent a decade saying yes to both sides, stalling and questioning, not ready to choose and watch my life become simpler and more ordinary. Only without definite or definable values, I'm a genuine indeterminate. I am what I might be, not what I am. "

,,,,,,,,,,,,,, For just over 7 years, I have been this person. The person above that is. Of course, there are exceptions which are nunyas business but that's besides the point. For years I have tried to put into words how I feel, what I am, why I do what I do, etc. And it took reading one of the, actually probably the most inspiring book I've ever read to FINALLY put it all into perspective and words. I have never been reckless with my life. I have flaws like everyone and some worse than others. But the teeter-tottering between religion and everything else started when I was 16 years old. It was between my Sophomore and Junior year and really surfaced when I was dating someone. And because of what happened with me, personally, during that year, I changed. Impossible not to when you're in love, right? And first love at that. I've always struggled with knowing if my belief and testimony of the church is my own or based off of others. My parents have never been ones to bear their testimony to me and so I cannot blame them for this. But the truth of any religion that you've been raised in is that when that's all you've ever known, how do you actually know if it's what YOU want? Even with all the good things that have happened to you and the experiences you have had, how do you KNOW if it's real? It's only been since College that I've had temptations thrown at me like darts at a dart board and I'll be the first to admit I've let every one of them hit me right in the chest. Well, not everyone of them, but the ones that I've been raised to stay far away from and be told that they're wrong. What I'm faced with now is, how is something I feel, an emotion, wrong when it's something I've been given? The ability to feel and react to the thing around me. I understand we all make our own decisions, but are not most of our decisions influenced by the things around us? I'm a human being with human emotions just like everyone else around me and yet I'm being told to supress them, or more like threatened to do so for if I don't bad things will happen to me? I'm 22 years old and a single mormon girl living in East Tennessee. My only chance of marrying who my parents wish me to is to move out west. End of story for that. But what do I want. Me. Myself. No one else's take on what I should or shouldn't do being taken into account here, what do I want for me? And Is what I want for myself actually what I want or what I've been told I want for so long that I cannot see past the walls? My dad likes to use analogies for things and the one that sticks with me the most is the one of invisoning a beautiful mountain in the distance. That's your destination, that's your desire and you know the path to get there, after-all it's straight, and you set out for it. You're making progress when something pulls you from the path, but your goal still in sight. After some time you resume your course with the mountain ahead of you as your prize, but you are then again pulled away from it. This happens over and over again, you are growing tired of the traveling and want to give up. But the pull from the mountain is there and you continue on. The point is that you never were meant to get to the mountain. But that it was the things along the way that you needed more than to climb up to the top of that mountain. The mountain was just your guide to lead you where you needed to go. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, --> So to my new favorite person whom I hope to meet someday. Elna Baker, thank you for this memoir and for being the first thing, well first person in my life to make sense of what I'm dealing with and not make me feel so alone in it all. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Your Mom Is A Graveyard Smash

2009-10-31T12:18:00.000-04:00

So my blog is finally back to public view, which means anyone can see it. I didn't realize that even my blogmates couldn't see it so I do apologize to the people who wanted to see this here blog and could not. The reason for having it private was because my privacy was being invaded by someone I didn't want reading my blog and knowing what I was doing. It is a perfectly reasonable reason I think, but I'm not posting anything to be ashamed of and I shouldn't care what they do or think. But onto morest funnerest things... As an unexpected Happy Halloween present, I just found out through facebook that one of my favorite artists is coming to Knoxville in less than a month and I'm having a problem containing my excitement at the moment: I was barely in high school when I first heard of Imogen Heap. But then she was collaborating with another artist and they were known as Frou Frou which for the longest time I thought was her name, but come to find out it is not. (I swear I'm smarter than I look.) The song you hear playing right now is the first song that I ever heard from her and since then it has been a very committed and loving, but healthy relationship. :) If you don't know her, you should. She's kind of a big deal. People know her. :) (Yes, that was an anchorman quote.)

From The Hills Of My Hometown

2009-09-29T23:14:00.000-04:00

Fall is finally here in East Tennessee! The weather is absolutely perfect and reminds me why I do like living here. Despite the ridiculous humidity during the summer of course. And along with the fall came the flu. (No buono.) I've been fighting it since Sunday and though it is a mild strain, it is still enough to knock you off your feet and put you in the bed. So there has been lots of sleeping in the mid-day and lots of pill cocktails to fight off the nasty fever and aches. School is halfway over now. With italiano exams, piano proficencies and recitals, and a french set of Faure songs to learn I'm beginning to feel the pressure. It is hard not to crack, but I find listening to a little bit of takes my mind off of the current stress. One of my best friends is getting married this weekend and so it is operation wedding week. I'm excited about it and also stressed because I've taken on the task of food for the "lingerie/bacherlorette/whatever you want to call it" party on Thursday. This would be okay if I didn't already have a full day of school before it, but I have a problem of overloading myself. (Note to self: Stop it. :) ) It should be okay though, because I found a recipe for the Cafe Rio Tomatillo dressing which I crave on a regular basis so I'm uber excited about making it to go with the taco salad we will be having. :) Ah, sometimes the little things in life are all it takes to boost your spirits. Enough of this though. Tempo a studio! Buona notte amici!

O. M. G....

2009-07-03T14:21:00.000-04:00

http://www.knoxville.com/news/2009/jul/03/twilight-sequel-premiere-in-knoxville/ Summit has not confirmed it yet. But if this really does happen, I'm finding tickets. One way or another. I will find tickets. The story also been reported/leaked on The Twilight Lexicon and His Golden Eyes.

Dearest Harry

2009-06-12T08:51:00.000-04:00

Harry was a man I used to work with at Wal-Mart. Harry likes to write poems to the cashiers, managers, etc for fun. Some of them are serious, some are funny, and some don't make a lot of sense. He wrote one for me when I went to London:

Well, he has struck again, only this time it was for Mom:

I think it's brilliant. Or better yet, HE is brilliant. I couldn't come up with something like that if I tried. (Sad, I know)

.............

The fam and I had a celebration at the new Red Robin at Turkey Creek in honor of Nancy and I both getting GPA honors this past semester. The food was brilliant. Our waiters name was Jesse (Which my parents enjoyed making comments about throughout most of the meal.) But the best part was that Austin was able to be there with us. My parents and I were so excited and happy that he was able to be a part of it and actually spend time with us. It was sad because he didn't know who we were, but we hope that as he gets older he will know and know how much we really do love him.

We attempted a family picture. It's not the greatest picture in terms of how everyone looks. But it holds a special place to me because of the big smile that someone is smiling in the front.

New Moon Rambles.

2009-06-06T09:40:00.000-04:00

My friend Stephen and I got into a New Moon discussion last night. Mainly over the teaser trailer and trying to figure out why it shows Bella telling Jake to "run" right after it shows Laurent tells Bella how "mouthwatering" she is. Well, this upset me seeing the trailer because as any real twilight fan knows, Bella encounters Laurent in what used to be the meadow (which bothers me because there really wasn't a "meadow" scene in Twilight. *curses Catherine Hardwick*). So Stephen and I got into a discussion about it last night and he claimed they had put two different scenes together. I said it didn't make any sense because Jake was running from his house and in midair goes to wolf mode. Plus, why would Bella be telling Jake to run? What would he need to be running from? ANSWERS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3d9LwlTkI8&feature=player_embedded

(Couldn't figure out how to post a video >_<)

Here is my argument (Me being picky basically)

Chapter 13-14 in New Moon is revolves around Bella accepting Jacob's "new gig" as a wolf and meeting the pack officially for the first time. This takes place at La Push beach.

Going back to the trailer: We see Jake superhuman it from his house running toward Bella as Bella is yelling "Jake Run."

According to the video above, when Bella is running towards Jacob telling him to run, it is when Paul and Jacob go at each other.

Not exactly where it happens in the book. The confrontation happens at the beach, not at Jacob's house.

Tada. So already there is a unauthentic moment in the movie (Sort of.)

Yeah, I really overanalyze things. Which is probably why I'm so torn about Twilight. I liked it, but the lack of character development, the cullens house, the green house scene...It all bothers me. I'm trying to look past it though like I did with the Harry Potter films, it's just hard when I'm a purist about things. >_<

On a side note and why I don't like Catherine Hardwick: http://www.twilightlexicon.com/2009/06/05/the-origens-of-the-spider-monkey-line/ As catchy as they are (And yes I like the "Monkey Man" one) I would of liked a little more authenticity rather than trying to make it something it isn't. Am I making sense? I hope so. Oi. But I can say this....

Yay to the new golden color tint!

Summer.

2009-06-05T00:48:00.000-04:00

It's summer again and for the first time in my life I'm taking summer classes *dundundun* It's not so bad actually....I'm kind of liking it. It makes me think more and use parts of my brain I didn't know actually functioned so It's all in all a pretty cool deal. It's almost 1 a.m. so I should be sleeping. But I had to post this and a nice little picture just because I can. Yeah.

Heh.

Rossini Weekend in Knoxville

2009-04-14T16:25:00.000-04:00

If you are anywhere within a reasonable drive to Knoxville, I highly reccommend you take a road trip next weekend come to the annual Knoxville Rossini Festival on Gay Street in Downtown Knoxville. Once a year, Gay street is blocked off for a full weekend of festivites with local vendors (Mac Grill always makes an appearance,) music, live performances from Knox. Opera and UTOT, and Sooooo much more. (Did I mention Mac Grill would be there? :) )

Two of the coolest things happening that weekend are the Operas. (Wheee!)

Knoxville Opera's Pagliacci will be playing Sat and Sun. The Sat showing is a perfect way to end your day after taking in the sights, smells, and sounds of the festival. It's also convient since it's at the Tennessee Theatre on Gay Street. (Grab a glass of wine and come see the show.)

For more information, check out the Knoxville opera website.

http://www.knoxvilleopera.com/

OH yeah. That's right. One of Mozarts best. Set in the 1940's with the DG as a mob boss, UTOT's Don Giovanni is sure to be a hit. The best part of this production is that Caroll Freeman (UTOT Opera Director) has given the Undergrads a chance to shine on Saturday night with an Undergrad cast (I've been covering Elvira in the U.grad cast.) Tickets are affordable and there is a different cast every showing. (Seriously. We have 5 Zerlinas!) All showings are at the Bijou theatre jjjuuussttt down the road from the Tennessee Theatre. (See, look at the convience of all of this! No excuse why you shouldn't come check it ALL out. :) )

For more information, check out the UTOT website:

http://www.music.utk.edu/opera/dongiovanni.html

I'm really uber excited about next weekend. Even though I don't get to enjoy the festival, I'm getting to be a part of it and that's a great opportunity to have. The next week is going to be hectic until opening but the payoff will be worth it I think. Everyone has worked really hard on this and the talent we have in the production is wonderful. As stressful as it's been this year, I've been very blessed to have the experiences I have had with UTOT this year.

I'm ready to see what is going to be happening next year now. :)

Happy Feet

2009-04-02T14:39:00.000-04:00

Pictures from Punch Bros. concert for now.

Commentary will come laters. :)

Randomness

2009-03-28T21:11:00.000-04:00

I'm not used to not doing anything anymore. I'm always doing something so it's very weird for me to just sit at home and do nothing.

After waking up and going through the Twilight DVD features, watching the commentary, cleaning, blogging, facebooking, twilighting, and looking up stuff on Ben Moore for Song Lit, I decided to head up to a concert in Knoxville.

I was on my way to the concert when I saw the clouds starting to roll in and they didn't look too inviting. I knew I didn't want to get stuck in Downtown Knoxville with the rain and so I detoured my way to Borders at Turkey Creek.

I love Borders. I love most all bookstores actually. But Borders is up there along with McKay's. (Which is one of my guilty pleasures in life.)

I went in and did my usual. Checked out the Top 10 best sellers, the sale books at the front, and the twilight displays. Those normally always come first. I also look at the recommended reads by the employees and see if anything they suggest catches my eye. Next is the cafe (skipped tonight and probably will be for a very long time) where I get my IZZE Pomegrante drink.

(me fav is in ze middle. blackberry is good too)

I eventually make my way to the cook books and see what is laying out or *featured* at the moment. I move onto the young adult section and browse for a moment before going toward the very back corner of the store where they have music books and books on travel. I make a point to check the music books for anything they might have that I need for school (same thing at McKay's. Found a Puccini score there for $10.)

On the same side toward the front is the DVD section. My first stop is the Opera section, second is British TV, third is Musicals, and then I just browse everything else from there. Tonight was my lucky night though because I found this

I had heard of it, but didn't know too much about it. Only that it is based off of The Princess and The Pea.

But what really made me want it more than anything was that Zooey Deschanel is in it.

Yep. Zooey D. I pretty much love her. It kind of one of those 'you're so cool' gawking, cool kid in school, things. Yeah....

Going on. I check out the Classical CD section and the local music too. I then make my way to the stationary area. They have some great stuff there (it's a little pricey though.)

As I was walking through something caught my eye as I walked by that made me stop and double take. A familiar image that couldn't be mistaken but it didn't look right...

*removes pink thingy like a child at christmas*

I don't know why it is. But I got so excited seeing it just laying there. Maybe it was the fact that it was out of place? I'd just seen the displays 40 minutes earlier....

I guess I shouldn't be suprised by fan girl reaction. I mean, I do have a Team Edward and Twilight charm bracelet.

<_<

I finally made it to my last stop. The magazines. If there is one thing that keeps me from ever getting through a check out. It's magazines.

I went straight to my source for all things in the UK...

I read it in London and whenever I'm in the store I'll flip through it.

Next was Entertainment Weekly. The cover was Harry Potter and Voldemort but I found this to be the coolest thing in there...

(i'm suprised i didn't buy it just for this picture. i bought a music card with the wicked witch of the west on it just because it played music and had something to do with my favorite green witch. :) )

I checked out a couple of music magazines before checking out with my new DVD. Next was a Panera stop and then homeward bound which is where I sit now eating my Bacon Turkey Bravo sandwich (Gouda cheese!)

All in all. It hasn't been such a bad day.

A Day With Marilyn

2009-03-28T18:06:00.000-04:00

I had the *golden* opportunity to travel to Huntsville to meet Marilyn Horne.

Who is Marilyn Horne you ask?

Clickidy Here.

It's not everyday you get to meet an opera legend. And an amazingly humble one at that.

I heard about her being in Huntsville through a friend of mine. I did some searching and found out that she was giving an online Masterclass live from the University of Alabama. The day after her foundation was giving a concert at a local church in Huntsville with 4 young artists.

It was Spring Break. I could either sit at home and do nothing or do what a good little music student would do and find someway to watch both.

I rounded up 3 of my friends and we got together last thursday to watch the masterclass on the internet. There was a chat room also for those watching the masterclass to chat in and discuss what was happening. A couple of people from UA were in the chatroom as well monitoring and giving us details about the performers.

I asked if tickets would be available at the door on Friday. The plan was already in motion that we were driving down the next day.

The conversation went as follows:

Me: Can we purchase tickets at the door?

U.A. Person: Yes. How many are you needing?

Me: 3. No wait, 4. Yeah.

U.A. Person: We have been giving them out as comps to people as they've come into the masterclass today. I have set aside 4 tickets with your name on them. They will be at will-call for you to pick up tomorrow.

Me: OMG! Thank you!!!

And with that. We set off the very next day to Huntsville to meet Marilyn Horne.

.........

It was a great drive down. No real adventures. We found the church with ease and backtracked to the mall to eat before. After some italian food, we made our way back to the church for the recital.

Overall. The recital wasn't too bad. There was a bass, tenor, and two sopranos. One of the sopranos did Samuel Barber's Hermit Songs and the other did a Stephen Foster set and one of the songs was called "Ring De Banjo." It was great and the soprano was so into it. Loved it.

After the recital was over. Rocky made a beeline for Marilyn as she walked off the stage after the bows. The rest of us followed behind him like the parents to a child wondering if he was going to be turned away or not. To our suprise, she was very warming and receptive to Rocky. (Okay so it wasn't much of a suprise) and as the rest of us approached, she started to carry on a conversation with us about the recital, where we were from, how we were voice students, etc. She was amazingly warm, humble, and calm. A wonderful person.

The best comment she made was as we were just about to get a picture with her.

Marilyn: I hope to hear you all sing someday.

Us: *dork laughs and giggles*

Here is the picture:

(She linked arms with me in the picture! Ah. How cool.)

All in all it was an amazing experience and I couldn't of asked for a better way to end my Spring Break. :)

Catch Up - Part 2

2009-03-28T17:38:00.000-04:00

St. Patty's Day continued.

I love this little girl.

Talking to who knows.

She was always moving!

Heh heh.

Whee!

Aws.

Collision!

Justice's face is priceless here.

Catch Up - Part 1

2009-03-28T15:45:00.000-04:00

1. Adventures in Domesticness with Julie.

She's getting married in October and is not the most domesticated individual in the world. So we decided to get together and start making dinner once a week at her place. This was our first meal which was in honor of Fat Tuesday and because our friend Brenda wanted Crepes.

I mean, that's enough of a reason....right?

Julie's crepes covered in lovely orange sauce. Yum

My two crepes. :)

We couldn't start watching Made of Honor until ALL of the dishes were cleaned.

(We knew they would never get done if we didn't.)

I was very protective of them.

2. The 21st B-Day.

I had a wee little get together with family and friends at a local coffee shop in Lenoir City. It was the most ecclectic group of people considering I have friends from every walk of life. But I loved it and it worked out great. One of the many cupcakes my mom and I made. The icing was homemade amazingness.

The finished product. (Yes those are Wicked colors.)

People were singing here. I don't remember who was taking pictures at this moment either.

Justice not only helped me blow out all my candles but also helped me with my presents. :)

Raven, Michael, Meself, Justice, Julie taking a mini photo op.

3. St. Patty's Day Picnic

On St. Patrick's Day, my friend Raven and her two kids along with Nancy, myself, and Austin all decided to have a picnic at the park up the street from where I live. It was a B.E.A.utiful day outside and we just took full advantage of it.

On my way to Raven's house. She lives in the middle of nowhere, but it's beautiful.

I love East Tennessee.

Austin love. (aka Bubba)

Nancers and Austin.

Justice got a hold of my camera and took this picture of Raven. Love it.

Justice. Heh.

Little Michael.

Our spread. My favorites were the pasta salad, kalamata olives, and the spinach artichoke dip with french rounds that Rae brought. Yumness.

Nancy giving Austin a pep talk. Poor guy was teething and didn't feel well.

My little man.

Gah. I love this kid!

He isn't smiling here. He's fussing. But it's still cute. Down the slide we go!

New buddies. Michael put his hand out to touch Austin and tripped so he kind of hit Austin in the face. Austin started to cry and that's when Nancy decided it was time to leave.

Rae and Michael

Justice made a new friend. He was such a polite little kid too. Said 'thank you' and 'please.' Grown people don't even say those things.

Michael spent his time trying to climb up the slide...

And he eventually gave up after a while. Lol.

Oh No You Don't

2009-02-27T13:17:00.000-05:00

Faculty Senate prepares for program cuts http://dailybeacon.utk.edu/showarticle.php?articleid=54733 More controversial change may be coming to the Knoxville campus and members of the Faculty Senate by this time next week and senators are trying to prepare for them. The survival of several UT-Knoxville academic programs, among other things like an increase in tuition for students and the consolidation of several academic programs, depends upon what comes to pass at the Board of Trustees meeting this weekend. All of the aforementioned were items of discussion listed on the agenda of the upcoming Board of Trustees meeting. “Perhaps for us, the most important item is on the board agenda and is ... a report entitled, Report on Academic Program Consolidations and Potential Discontinuance of Academic Programs,” John Nolt, faculty senate president and philosophy professor, said. Three programs were listed for proposed consolidation by the trustees for the UT-Knoxville campus. “Number one: Consolidation of the Master of Social Work Program in Memphis with the Nashville and Knoxville ... Merger of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies is on the table,” Nolt said. “This is a great surprise to me. I did not expect it would be on the table. Since philosophy is my home department, we’re still in discussions with Bruce Burstein about whether this merger will go forward, and so it’s a bit of a shock to me to see it on the agenda. (And) possible suspension of admissions into MSN specializations, Masters of Science and Nursing.” However, many other programs are under review for “possible discontinuance.” “In undergraduate programs ... Italian, Russian, German, art history, religious studies, geology, public administration and materials science and engineering,” Nolt said. “This is not to say that these programs are slated for closure, but they’re listed in the agenda as programs that are under review.” For graduate programs, this list included the dance minor, public safety, instructional technology, the Ph.D program in industrial organizational psychology, educational administration and consumer services management. Nolt explained that many programs were being considered for discontinuance because the Tennessee Higher Education Commission deemed them “low-producing.” “What that means is they did a raw count of degrees produced by the program and decided that there weren’t enough,” Nolt said. Nolt said in most cases faculty were not contacted for feedback or consultation when deciding what would be placed on the metaphorical chopping block. “The data there is — to me, it seems — inadequate in which to base a program review,” he said. “There should be greater communication between the system and the campus ... These point to continuing problems of system-campus communication. These are problems that we’ve had year after year after year.” Chancellor Jimmy Cheek, during his first meeting with the Faculty Senate, gave a similar report of bad news regarding the financial plans under consideration at the Board of Trustees meeting. He called the cuts the campus will have to make “large” and “dramatic.” But he also hoped that out of everything in the list of cuts to be presented to the trustees “there will be some ways that we will not have to implement” them all. “It’s predicated a nine percent tuition increase,” Cheek said. “That’s extremely important for us to get this year. I talked to Jan Simek this morning about the need for that nine percent increase in tuition. On top of the 25 and a half million dollar cut they’re asking us to plan for, there’s an additional 10 million dollars of fixed costs.” Cheek said that the $7 million of the 10 million that had to be cut were composed of utility bills, reoccuring costs like tenure promotion raises and the increased cost of graduate student health insurance. He also said that new buildings such as Haslam are more efficient, but “the reality is, it’s two and half times the size of the old building.” Cheek also said that with new buildings “we do not get new resources to pay the utility bill.” “That’s despite the fact that through your hard work and the work of our staff and students, we’ve reduced energy consumption four and a half percent over this campus since the campaign has begun ... at the beginning of this academic year,” Cheek said. “But utility costs continue to rise.” When regarding the new federal stimulus package, it’s ability to help the UT system and the UT-Knoxville campus financially is still unknown by both Nolt and Cheek. “The officials with whom I have talked with regarding the federal stimulus package are still uncertain as to what the effects will be on UTK,” Nolt said. “It will certainly help us to some extent, but it will not solve our problems.” Cheek agreed that the stimulus package and it’s importance is “unclear” now. “As John has already stated, it’s unclear how the stimulus package, the stimulus money, will make an impact on the University of Tennessee’s budget,” Cheek said. “And I hope that at the next senate meeting that I’ll be able to bring some clarity to this, because quite frankly it’s not very clear right now ... Remember, it’s a two year commitment and some day we have to balance the books.” Regarding the resignation of the John Petersen as the UT president, Nolt was also unclear of what the effects of this might mean in the long run. “There will be sweeping impacts I’m certain from the change in presidency, but I’m not sure exactly how much change to expect,” Nolt said. Provost Susan Martin, who also spoke at the Faculty Senate Meeting, reminded faculty members who were most concerned about the possible closure and consolidation of academic programs that nothing had been decided yet and all of the items on the Board of Trustees agenda for discussion “are proposals for consideration at some future date.” Martin said, “This is really an on-going process that isn’t even close to being finished.” How is the voice program supposed to continue without this very important linguistic education? This may sound silly to many of you, but the truth of the matter is that the voice program depends on these language programs to supplement the language education that it cannot provide! I encourage and invite you to email Dean Bursten (artscidean@utk.edu) and his assistant (hcockrum@utk.edu). Also, e-mail the chancellor (chancellor@utk.edu)! E-mail anyone else you think should hear your voice!

Once in a Lifetime

2009-02-24T09:46:00.000-05:00

I had the golden opportunity to attend two separate masterclasses this weekend with Warren Jones. Now, for those of you who don't know who he is, just google the man and he is everywhere!

Now I will admit I didn't know exactly how *big* this guy is until I mentioned to my dear friend Brenda I was going to see him on Saturday and she flipped out. After settling down from hyperventilation, she informed me that she sat in on a masterclass with him in Cincinatti about 1o years ago (Hah. I was like 11.) and also saw him perform with Dame Kiri te Kanawa two years ago in a Masterclass down in Atlanta. It was then that I realized this was no ordinary masterclass. This was indeed a once in a lifetime opportunity.

So with Brenda in tow. We indulged ourselves in an intimate weekend with pianist Warren Jones.

The man has worked with some of the opera greats of all time and takes his time when he isn't performing to come and work with students at universities across the country. The idea of him coming to UT was apparently a dream a few years ago as he is a busy man and hard to get, however, through the persistance of the UT voice faculty and a generous donation made by a Warren Jones "fan." The students of the Voice department at UT got to have one on one coachings with this incredible man.

The first masterclass on Saturday was on French Melodie and the second on Sunday night was working through Mozart recit from Don Giovanni which is the opera UTOT is performing in April. His knowledge is incredible. Endless almost. He knew everyones pieces back to back and could play the accompaniment like he composed it himself. The two masterclasses he gave were both different but equally informative.

The man himself, Warren Jones.

I'll post my own pictures later. But I'm feeling rather blessed to have been in the right place at the right time. He was supposed to come last year but fell ill and couldn't make it. I wouldn't of been around if he came last year and he came this year instead! Twas a sure treat.

A Wee Bit Tad Of An Update

2009-01-17T07:44:00.001-05:00

School has started and is in full swing now. It's nice to not have so many hours this semester so that I can really focus on the classes I have and not get too loaded down. I put myself under a lot of unneeded stress with the amount of classes I took last semester. It was not the brightest idea for me being a transfer student and not really knowing how the big T worked, especially in the music department. The opera is already in full swing with rehearsals. I have to admit I feel like a loser sitting there in the recit rehearsals not doing anything. I'm not saying that I shouldn't go, but it can be frustrating when people 'talk it up' and then nothing happens. That's all I'm saying about that. I have started going back to church now. It took a lot to go back after the petty drama from a certain person. I started from the beginning and base of the 'why i go to church' with attending my home ward with my parents a few weeks ago. It was really a good thing for me to do because the people there hold no prejudice against me (No matter what certain people might think) and it was good to remember why I go to church. It's not for socializing, it's for something more. I followed it up by going to the branch the following week. It was a tough thing for me to do knowing that 'said person' would be looking on as I made my return there. I focused on the speakers and the messages being spoken through the testimony's that day, rather than the obvious ignorance from a member of the congregation. I never believed it when people told me that they left the church because of a person or a group of people. But now I see it and why it would drive someone to do that. The church is supposed to be a welcoming place with no prejudice. It's a safe haven for people and rightly so considering it is the Lord's house. It's so discouraging when people bring drama into the mixture of something that doesn't need it. I've had it said to me many times over the past few months that no matter how much people within the church screw up and make mistakes, the gospel is true. The gospel will never fail and it is perfect in everyway shape and form. It has been hard for me to really remember that and accept it, but I haven't given up yet. My whole new years resolution was going back to the basics. The beginning of where everything has started in my life. Not just with church, but with my family, friends, you name it. The old saying "You can't know where you're going until you know where you came from." is truly my new motto. I've made some dumb mistakes (as we all have) and I can't take them back. But I can learn from them, remember why I did them, and grow from them. It's not just that I'm wanting to learn from my past faults. But also, I want to discover why I have such a low self-esteem. I do a good job of covering it up for the most part, but anyone who really knows me knows that I have struggled with this for a very long time. I seriously cannot remember a time I didn't think negative about myself. It started at a very young age, around 4 or 5 I believe. It rooted from 'looking different' from my cousins. My biggest desire growing up was to fit in. It was a huge focus for me in elementary school and I was never satisfied with who I was. I didn't have that close nit group of friends that I kept ALL through my school career and beyond. No, instead I had friends here and there for say the school year and then the next, we never spoke. My summers were not spent hanging out with friends, but rather spending time with my family and cousins. There is nothing wrong with that, but I never had a vacation to the beach with my best friend or neither did I have sleep overs every friday night. It's not that I didn't want to, it's that for whatever reason I didn't have the friends to make any of that happen. A lot of it is based off of image. But another part of it is my personality as a person. I was a very energetic, loud, and sometimes annoying child. The loud part got me in a lot of trouble at school and because of that I got it in my head that anything I had to say was not important. To this day I still have that mind frame. Ridiculous right? Maybe to you, but to me it's a big deal. The third element is definitely one that a lot of people deal with and that is relationships involving boys. It seemed to be a neverending over and over again situation of this: I'd like a guy. We were good friends. I never said anything because I was afraid of rejection. By the time I wanted to say something, they revealed to me that they liked my best friend. You think I'm kidding? I could name their names right here, right not. But I'm not going to do that because that wouldn't be cool of me. The other part of that was of course what I like to call 'the story of my life,' in joking, but in actuality, it has shaped me to be the person I am today. The kind of hurt I experienced was not something a 17 year old should have to deal with or anyone of any age for that matter. People talk about the darkest time in their lives and well, that one was mine. I absolutely closed up, completely. I almost stopped functioning in that I couldn't sleep, I wasn't able to eat, and I would barely talk to anyone including my family. It messed me up bad. The biggest thing was knowing the reasons why. The REAL reasons why. Not the bullcrap I got from text messages, emails, or myspace messages, but the REAL reasons as to why. And not only that, but knowing that the bullcrap reasons I was getting were NOT true. No one just stops loving someone overnight. No one can be in a relationship that intense with someone for a year and say that they never loved them. The hardest thing was being told that the entire year I spent with this person was a lie and that they never cared about me. That they felt sorry for me and that's why they dated me. That I was just a "fill in" for who they ended up with. I'm not sorry to say that all of this is a lie. An absolute lie. And these people can act on that, spread it around, and say that I was some crazy obsessive girlfriend, but I know and others know that that is not true. It never was. A relationship based on lies and deciet cannot succeed. I do not believe I will ever fully be over it until I have met the person that I'm 'supposidly' supposed to be with for time and all eternity. But I'm working on getting rid of all my frustrations toward it completely. It will make for a much healthier me indeed. Someday I will write a book about my experiences dealing with that. Just for my own personal record. But that's all I can say on that for right now. I hold a lot in and for good reasons. But the downside of that is that because I hold it all in, when it does come out, it's not pretty. This is my journal entry of sorts for like the past month and a half. Lol. I type faster than I write. And if you read this, then thank you for doing so.

Just an FYI

2009-01-10T11:06:00.001-05:00

I have made it to where comments can actually be made on my blog now. At least I think so. Thanks to those who told me they couldn't. :) I'm off to the Met Auditions now. Should be fun.

Take A Step Back

2008-12-25T21:26:00.001-05:00

This Christmas was different from any other in many different ways. The thing that was the most obvious was the absence of Nancy. She stayed back to spend Christmas with Austin since it was his first. I'm glad she did because that is something she shouldn't of missed. However, she missed being with her family too. She is beginning to realize the responsibilites that come with growing up and with the choices she has made. We are all dealing with that now in some way. Dad is realizing he can't go run off and play soldier again overseas. Mom is realizing her mistakes since they've been married. And me, I've realized the mistakes I've made and the things I have to do to make them better. There's a nice long list of things and they start with me and my mental problems. I have anger issues, jealousy problems, major mood swings, a temper, and the list could go on. Something that has been the most challenging for me is finding the source of my problems and I finally pinpointed it a couple of months ago during my first real breakdown of the semester. My self esteem on a scale from 1 to 10 is a 1. There is no exaggeration there either, it really is that low. Because of that, I have become pessimistic to the point that I don't see the bright side of much of anything. It all started when I was really young and how I was "different" from other kids. I didn't look like everyone else and kids pointed that out regularly when I was in grade school. The best nickname was Hawaiian Punch that was given to me right after I switched schools going into the 2nd grade. I blew it off as being funny, but internally I was hurt. Being a ballerina didn't help matters. All of the girls were smaller framed than me and I constantly compared myself to them when in class. I even did it with the girls at school. I didn't have a lot of friends because I didn't "look" like everyone else. I wasn't blonde or skinny or ditzy. That of course leads right into the boy issues. I made up my mind at a very young age that I was not attractive and have kept that mind frame ever since. It has been hard to get away from that image of myself because I've spent so long in a negative mind frame. It doesn't help at all that my other sisters are all beautiful and drop dead gorgeous. I kind of got stuck with, well, the rest. What happened 2 years ago didn't help. See what I mean? I can't think positive of myself in anything I do! It's so frustrating! Even when I try, I want to bang my head into a wall for it. It's a major mental issue that Prozac can't cure. It's going to take other things....I just don't know where to start. I get so angry at my friends who complain about their weight or something else when I'm standing there. They don't seem to realize that the things they are complaining about are not true about themselves and that the person standing in front of them (me) is the one with the issues. That's not me being selfish either, I'm just being honest. I also can't stand it when my friends complain about a guy not liking them or something else of that nature. I would give almost anything to have one guy look at me, just for once in my life and tell me I am pretty. But that is too much to ask. I don't want to go on anymore because now I feel like I'm having a whine fest. It's just really hard during this time of year to stay positive and with recent events in my life, I'm not seeing much of a bright light at the end of this tunnel. My first new year resolution is to finally be able to accept myself for who I am and not compare myself to others around me. That's my main realization with who I am this year.

Christmas Time Is Here

2008-12-24T09:06:00.001-05:00

We were blessed the other day with having the chance to spend time with Austin for a little while. He is getting so big and is extremely smart for a 1 year old. He knows patty cake, he sings almost all the time to any kind of music or sound, he poses for pictures when you have a camera, and his laugh is addictive. There are others, but just having him around boosts all of our spirits. With that said, I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. And don't forget to watch the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Special on PBS tonight. It's always a highlight for me at Christmas. With love and warm spirits Robyn

A Vent

2008-12-08T17:34:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7MPUfGnH5o Some people just make my blood boil... My sister posted a blog a while back about dealing with people who know nothing about the LDS Church and proceeded to tell her that she didn't know anything about her own religion in a very disrespectful and rude way. She handled it so well and I really believe that more people should take her example when dealing with certain things. I have been so far fortunate to have stayed away from any discussion of Gay Marriage or Prop 8. But, it does not mean that I wasn't paying attention to the harsh criticism and downright evil things being said about the church. I have had an issue in the past of blowing up at people when they start to tell me what I believe or vice versa. I had someone I considered a friend tell me to my face I was not a christian. I've had people ask me why my dad doesn't have multiple wives. I actually had a person stand in front of me, knowing I was LDS, talk down about the church. When I tried to raise my hand to correct something, he shot me down before I could even open my mouth. It is narrowminded people like that, that make me want to hate. I don't want to hate anyone or anything, but I've been pushed to the edge and over when it comes to my religion and I will not stand for it anymore. I'm not the most upstanding, righteous person in the world. I'm not perfect. I make mistakes just like everyone else. I'm a human being! It's what we do. But how dare someone stand there or sit there and tell me what I believe in and that it is wrong? Where do you get off with that? I have gotten to the point where I most of the time ignore the prejudice and narrow minded comments people make about the LDS Church. It took a while for me to get there, but I can take most of it now. However, there is a fine line between being understanding and classy about bringing up issues you have with the church and the other being absolutely set in your own mind that this is how things are and whatever anyone else says is wrong. Do people ever stop to think and consider all their options? No, because that would be to easy. Do people ever start out 'asking' questions or do they just jump into conclusions and what they have heard and supposidly "know." No, because that requires actually being humane and reasonable about something which a lot of people don't do. The other day I was waiting for the choir concert to begin and I heard someone say something about going to a "mormon funeral." First of all, I never ever ever ever make jokes towards someones religion. That is one of the most slanderous things a person can say or do. Secondly, I have never looked someone in the face and told them that what they believe is not true and they are going to hell for it. Well this person tried to cover their arse, but it was too late. The damage was done. Joke or not, it was not cool. I don't care if someone else said it, it is the fact that you repeat it that is the problem. I have lost friends over being a member of the LDS Church. I lost my first love over my choice to try and be faithful and true to the gospel. I have watched my extended family turn against my own parents because of their choice to join the church. Where is reason? I could easily hate, bicker, start something over anyone's choice of religion, what food they eat, what their favorite color is, but I DONT. Because it is not my place to sit there and say "you're wrong for liking the color purple." or "the fact you say the same prayer every sunday and don't exactly know what you're saying because mommy and daddy taught you it is wrong." No. I don't say those things. People instead say them to me and I don't understand Why. Why the prejudice? Why the constant bickering? Why can people not just shut their mouths for two seconds and hear the other persons side of the story? Don't assume you know the story or the truth because you heard it from some random person. Find out yourself. The best way to know about any religion is to go to someone of that religion. Don't have a "professor of religions" come in and tell you because most likely they have run across false literature which is exactly what I ran into a couple of months ago with the man at 2nd pres who shot me down before I even opened my mouth. Go to the source. If you aren't satisfied with the answer you recieve, be kind about it and either say you disagree in a reasonable, mature manner. Don't do the opposite. It only makes people mad and the situation worse. I know that was alot and I think I lost myself in there somewhere. But I had to get this off of my chest. I don't normally do this and those of you that really know me, know that to be the truth.

And Here We Go Again

2008-12-05T18:59:00.000-05:00

Cast list for Giovanni went up today...

Guess what Robyn got?

Any guesses?

Yours was as good as mine.

Donna Elvira (Cover)

once portrayed by the great

Cecilia Bartoli

A cover once again. It is all good considering everything. I'm just grateful I'm even cast. I think though that I would of rather have been put in the chorus all together rather than in a cover role because now I have to learn it on top of everything else (Academic wise)....but the good Lord (and Carole Freeman) have their reasons for as to why they did this so that is that.

Next semester will be full of funness. I'm excited to be working with my fellow classmates on this and I know it will be a good learning experience for me as was Street Scene.

Oh I Believe

2008-11-19T17:47:00.000-05:00

While searching through the library stacks, I found a book about Spring Awakening and decided to take a look at it.

I have only known the rough basis for what the plot is and I know almost all of the songs. But reading the actual script has opened my eyes to how graphic and risky and sexual the show really truly is. I'm not sure anymore if I want to see it live or not. A part of me thinks I would feel uncomfortable about watching certain situations within the show unfold in front of me. It's definitely not a show I would want my kids to see or anyone under the age of 18 for that matter. But that's just how I feel about it. Well I'm going to go finish doing research for my Song Lit paper. Thanks for reading this random rant if you did.

Representin

2008-11-19T12:05:00.000-05:00

Yesterday morning, I was on the radio. Yep. Why do you ask? Because of Twilight. :) The morning radio hosts were talking about Robert Pattinson and how he proposed multiple times to co-star Kristen Stewart while working on the movie. Apparently, one of the hosts believed it to be real so I, being the little miss annoying know it all I am, called in and set the record straight about Kristen Stewart having a boyfriend for a while now ON AIR on Star 102.1 Talk about the highlight of my day because it went downhill from there. But it was so funny. When I got to Pedagogy this morning, we were given playdough during a group presentation. I am in Twilight mode major this week with the movie coming out (Yes I'm going to the premiere) and I thought, hm, what can I make with this playdough... And this what I came up with.

Opera Review

2008-11-18T08:50:00.000-05:00

Before I run away to school for the day... I had to post this. http://mostlyclassical.blogspot.com/ It is a review of Street Scene and SWEET CORN, there is a part about me and Sarah! (Well a line at least) =)

I'm A Doubting Thomas

2008-11-07T12:42:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I feel like that flower. All alone in a patch of grass. Lol. But anyways, there are SO many things are going on right now it's hard to keep it all straight...

School is coming to a close for the semester and with that comes end of semester projects and papers. I have a project for my Pedagogy class that has to be done by Thursday (The date was moved up almost a week) and so my afternoon tomorrow will be spent with my group finishing it up. I really hope it comes together because I would rather not half-arse it. Especially after everything else I've done in the class has been good so far.

Song Lit is another problem. I have a paper to write and not only that but I made an idiot of myself by not practicing with my accompanist before having to perform in class on Wednesday and therefore have to go on Monday..which did turn out okay in the end. But I still felt like an idiot.

Then there is the Opera which is consuming my life at the moment. Luckily, I have tonight and tomorrow off which I did not expect and I am very grateful for the chance to actually rest up before next week hits me like a brick wall.

My personal life is at a standstill. Social activities are almost non-existant which is fine because school needs to be my main focus. My love life is non-existant too which is totally fine. Because basically the attempt at being in a relationship with my schedule is laughable because it's impossible. :)

Okay. I think I've rambled on enough for this blog. I want to post some pictures from the past few months on here later when I get home.

I think it's going to rain.

Yesss. :)

To Every Season Turn, Turn, Turn

2008-08-28T00:06:00.000-04:00

At the request of my dear friend Kate, I am going to blog more often. Not sure how much "more often" is. But I'm going to attempt it. :) Alright so here's what's going on in my life... I just started UTK last week after transfering there from Roane State in Harriman. It already feels like it's been weeks to me. Seirously. I'm very very very very overwellmed, stressed, freaked out, and extrememly behind. Behind as in "I don't have a clue what the heck is going on in my Italian, Song Lit, and Theory classes." And I'm even in Theory one, yo....Crazyness. I really hope that things lighten up soon. Sooner rather than later, PLEASE. Other than that nothing new has been going on in my life. It's stayed pretty mum all summer. I have made some new friends through being in the YSA Branch and though there's some not so cool stuff going on right now, it is nice to have something stable once a week. The spiritual uplift is needed. I have seen Austin in..gosh, I don't know how long. I doubt I will again until he's like 3. It's maddening the whole situation >_< Anyways. I'm exhausted and need to SLEEP. Until next time. Stay classy.

Song of Purple Summer

2008-07-01T00:05:00.000-04:00

And the summer rolls on. I've found a new past time and also a way for me to share my love of photography with people. I'm seriously thinking of trying to get into it after I get done with UT. It would be a way to pay the bills if performing gigs aren't exactly knocking on my door. It would also require a lot of money to invest in doing it which would be the only drawback. But we will see. I've fallen in love with the hit UK show Doctor Who (David Tennant is wonderful) and TLC's Jon and Kate +8. My new heroin as I call them. I've also gotten into Star Trek Enterprise, the most recent series. I'm like 4 episodes behind my parents right now so I have to catch up eventually. We are on Season 3 which is considered the worst Season of the series because it strayed away from "Trekky themes." I like it, so I don't see the problem, but whatever.

There really is nothing else other than that going on with me. I've got mad hiccups right now so I need to go get rid of those.

I promise I'll post a better blog later. :)

Adventures in Hula Dancing

2008-06-06T14:16:00.000-04:00

I've never had any hula training what-so-ever. Everything I've learned has been through my own personal studying and time I've taken to absorb what I can.

So when the head of the daycare at a local church in my area asked me to come and teach a hula last year for their Hawaiian Day. I was just about to say No, but then I figured it would be a good opportunity for me to learn some thing new and especially since it had something to do with my heritage, ethnicity, etc that it was something I should probably pursue.

So I did it last year and had a ton of fun doing it.

Fast-forward to this year and I was asked again to come in and teach a hula.

Now, I've been pretty worn down since my surgery and so my ability to get things done (like putting on my clothes even) is a challenge. Doing a hula was going to prove downright impossible.

Suprisingly I pulled it off. I taught some simple steps to about 18 kids between the ages of 5-7 years old.

If there ever was a form of birth control. The experience today was it. Definitley about pulled my hair out a couple of times. They were crazy! They were also really disrespectful which they weren't last year and plus, there was like only 8 last year. So it was multiplied this time. I wasn't prepared mentally for any of it today.

There were a couple of the little girls that were just all into it. And then there was the boys who of course were just not at all interested in anything I was trying to teach them. Lol.

*sigh* I don't want kids. Not anytime soon, that's for sure. I mean, I love kids, but I just know that I'm not ready for that kind of thing in my life.

But here is a picture of the whole caboodle of them. Seriously though, it was a fun time overall and I hope I can do it again next year. But we'll see.

A Dance Round The Memory Tree

2008-06-05T10:33:00.000-04:00

The past month has been CRAZY.

I took a glorious trip to London, England with my college choir and had the time of my life! I absolutely LOVE London and have already started to make plans to revisit again next year. I have a friend who lives about 3 hours north of London and she has offered to let me come and stay with her and her daughter for a few weeks. I'm definitely taking her up on that offer and so hopefully I can save up the money to make it happen. :)

After coming back from London, I went in for my mammaplasty. Things went great and it's been almost 2 weeks now (Tomorrow.) I am beginning to feel the bruising and since my body is repairing itself, it's made me very very tired. So going out and doing things the past two days hasn't been an option. I hate being stuck in this house and long for the fresh air, but I knew I would have less stamina for many weeks after and so I have to take what I signed on for. :/

Tomorrow I am teaching a simple hula to a local church summer camp group. This is my second year in a row doing it and I'm excited to have the opportunity to do it again. Considering I've never had any formal hula lessons, I've had to learn from scratch and so it's been a good learning experience for me. Its been a way for me to learn more about my heritage.

I think this about wraps it up. But how about a few pictures from London before I end this? I knew you wouldn't say No. :)

Sunrise into England

The Tube

Big Ben

The Eye

Tower Bridge

Would post more, but I don't have the patience. For all my pictures you can look at myspace.com/remedysweet.

Little News

2008-05-03T22:02:00.001-04:00

I posted this on my Myspace and then Facebook and now on here. I figured it was time to let everyone know. As many of you well know, I am rather heavily endowed in my chest. They have been giving me back, leg, arm, breathing problems for quite a few years now. I debated surgery for a long time but thought it was impossible because of money and time. Long story short, I am going in for a reduction at the end of May. It's a pretty serious surgery and obviously is going to change me tremedously. I am terrified but happy at the same time. I know I need it done for physical reasons, but also emotionally I think it will help me to accept myself again. But yeah. That is the gist of it. I go to England and three days after I come back is the surgery. Obviously I won't be going out into public the day after and I actually plan on staying indoors for a week with very little movement and activity. Once I am well enough and healed, I will post the before and after pictures (with clothes) so everyone can see. My closest friends and family will be invited to a lunch sometime after because I won't want to see much of anyone afterwards (that's my opinion of how I will feel because I know me) It's going to take some time to adjust and yes I will miss these suckers. But you know what, I can't WAIT to be able to run again. I can't WAIT to be able to buy shirts that fit. I can't WAIT to be able to lose the weight I've wanted to because I can actually move. I can't WAIT for SO many things that I know people take for granted out there that I haven't had in years. There are pros and cons to this whole thing, but the pros weigh in more favor. For those of you that think I am slapping God in the face (which I have heard many times) I am NOT doing that at all and to bring God into the matter is not necessary or appropriate. So if you are going to make a comment like that, I would advise you to keep it to yourself. That's all I really have to say about this. I do ask for your prayers and thoughts though on the 23rd of May and the days after. I know I'll be in some pain physically and emotionally.

Just Because

2008-04-29T22:10:00.000-04:00

So my sister has one, my aunt now has one and I know other friends of mine have a blog so why not just join the crowd?

I have actually had this blog for a long time and just never really used it. So I'm trying something new and that is actually attempting to blog.

We'll see how well this goes. Most of my blogs are on my myspace (myspace.com/remedysweet) but I think I can post them here and that way people I don't want to read my blogs can't. :)

Small bit about me I guess....I just finished my 2 years at a community college and am headed off to The University of Tennessee - Knoxville in the Fall. I'm really excited to be going there and participating in the School of Music. I will be pursing a degree in Music with Vocal Performance emphasis.

Let's see, what else. I like to have fun, but good clean fun. :) I love where I live and can't imagine living anywhere else right now. My family is disfunctional but who's isn't? I've got 5 siblings, full/half/adopted. Yeah, random much? And did I mention that I myself am adopted? Yep. True Story. So in theory I have 2 mom's and 2 dad's, but in reality the parents who raised me are my real parents. Even though we all have our issues, I love them always. I have an adorable nephew (Austin) and a new lovely niece (Olivia) whom I think are even more of a reason to keep going with my life. Children are a blessing from Heavenly Father and even if they are not under the best circumstances, we should love them as Heavenly Father loves us. :)

I am not in a relationship at this time. Mainly because I have decided to keep it like that. The other reason is because I attract the *wrong* guys at the *wrong* times. Yeah....Not really something I'm happy or proud of so I'm trying to change that. Not sure how to...but I'll figure something out. I have also realized that you don't need a guy telling you you're wonderful to make yourself happy. All you have to be is happy with yourself and who you are. That will make you more attractive than anything, a girl with confidence. :)

I love my friends more than I can say. They are my shoulder when I need to cry and so much more.

I think that's about it. I can't think much more because I'm tired and would like to sleep. :) But that is the gist of me I guess.

Here's a fun picture for you. Some friends and I at NATS in Memphis earlier this month. :)

XD