An Interesting End to the Decade

I'm just gonna go ahead and say it: 2010 was not my favorite year ever. Why? A quick chronological recap...

BCS National Championship Game: It's not that I'm being ungrateful; it just still hurts to look back and watch Colt McCoy take that seemingly innocent hit to his right arm. And his post-game interview is still hard on the burnt orange soul. The entire trip, courtesy of Longhorn Band and the University of Texas, was incredible. I had an excellent time in LA going to new places like Universal Studios, the beach (even though we walked freaking forever to find the right one), and seeing some of the gorgeous homes in Pasadena. But to watch our Horns fight hard the ENTIRE season to get to the Big XII Championship, and see that game literally come down to the last second before a Hunter Lawrence field goal sealed the deal, it's difficult to not see that team play Alabama. Not a fan of the "what if" game...

Car Wreck #1: A 70-year-old woman named Sandra Gentry was "not paying attention" when she ran her red light and t-boned me at Lamar and 183. That was an interesting experience. Not going to go back through that whole thing (though if you'd like to read the story, check back one post), but it has definitely left its impact on me, some lasting longer than others. I am jumpy on the road when people approach my line on a perpendicular street. I check intersections 5 times before I drive through them, making sure cars are not blowing through their red light while I consciously think, "Green. Green. Green. Still green. Aaand still green." My wrist is still not healed... 11 MONTHS LATER. I hit a baseball for the first time since the accident a couple of weeks ago, and the next day I had to wear a brace because it hurt so bad with any extensive movement. And, though not overwhelmingly noticeable, I have permanent scars on my lower lip. This accident totaled my car and left me immobile in a semester where I had intended on finding a job and making some money, and distracted me for the first month while I adjusted to not being able to use my right hand. Oh, we still have not reached a settlement with the insurance company, a lingering source of stress in both mine and my dad's lives.

Spring '10 Academic Semester: HED 329K with Peterson (aka Santa Claus). If you have to take it, I'm sorry and I recommend a laptop or bringing other material to study. He will shove his personal beliefs and political stances down your throat, and will only become irritated at arguments brought up in support of an opposing view. And he bases his entire course on some self-made flow chart that makes zero sense. Horrible horrible class.

LOST finale: The ending of a FANTASTIC series. I loved the finale and thought it was fitting to what the show was really about: The characters. I'm currently watching it from the beginning for a third time, and it is still awesome. I miss ending my Wednesday nights with, "LOST" ... "WTF?!?!" Brilliant show that honestly felt like a 6-year movie in terms of intensity and the complexity and development of the story and the characters in it.

Longhorn Baseball: Great season until it seemed intensity died in the last series against Mizzou before playoffs. Big XII tournament wasn't exactly an impressive showing, and the boys lost in Super Regionals to TCU, falling short of the usually-expected trip to the College World Series in Omaha, and the final year at Rosenblatt Stadium. This one was not as hard to swallow, maybe because TCU simply outplayed the Horns that weekend. But it was still strange to not see our school listed as one of the teams making it to the CWS.

Black-eyed Pea: The pay wasn't great. The hours were awkward. The food portions made me forget to eat anything the first 4 days I worked there. I worked a double-shift on my birthday, and requesting a change in an already-made schedule was apparently a no-no. At least my co-workers were awesome and kept everyone laughing!

Lack of Ranger Games: Because of the previously mentioned job, trips to Arlington were wayyyyy too few and far between. And it was often difficult to even watch them at night for the same reason, which was a huge bummer because of the fantastic season they were having.

MLB All-Star Game: The American League lost to the National League for the first time since 1996. Why did that bother me? The year the Rangers finally not only win the AL West Division and win the ALDS, but the year they defeat the Yankees in the ALCS, win the pennant, and advance to the World Freaking Series, the AL did not get home field advantage. I don't really think it would have made that much of a difference in the ultimate outcome, but that would happen the season in which the Rangers finally would have potentially benefited from an All-Star Game victory. Typical.

Fall '10 Academic Semester: Group projects are the worst thing to assign. Seriously. Of the 5 classes I was taking, 4 of them had at least 4 projects, 3 of them having projects and/or lab reports due every other week. Hey professors: We don't have time to meet outside of class! Gah.

Car Wreck #2: While on the way to study one night after LHB, I was at the front end of a 4-car accident on the Drag. No one was seriously injured and luckily my car was only rear-ended, but the frustration came in the emotional havoc of being in another accident only 9 months after the first one, taking steps back after significant progress was made in trusting people on the road, and the hassle of dealing with insurance companies and car repairs (which I am finally getting around to over the break).

Longhorn Football: The sloppy game against Rice was only the beginning, and those bad habits of a young, inexperienced team persisted throughout the season. And what was worse than that, our fans were HORRIBLE about continuing to support the team. Yes, it was rough at times to sit through some of those games, but it's your team. It was embarrassing as a UT student to see entire sections practically emptied before halftime, if they ever filled in at all. Either love your team and be there for them or don't; can't have it both ways. The end result of such a season? No bowl game. NO BOWL GAME. Not that we deserved to go to one or anything. It's weird to be watching all these other teams get ready for theirs, and there have been no emails sent out by LHB telling me what night we'll rehearse in Austin and at what awful early hour our flight will leave the next morning. This is the longest amount of time I have spent in Denton since I moved the majority of my stuff into my apartment last summer. And it's not that being home is bad, it's just a different type of break that is the result of a different type of Longhorn Football season.

And to prove this is not supposed to be a debbie downer type of note, a few things I absolutely LOVED about 2010:

My new '07 Nissan Sentra: Though I wouldn't say the big January accident was "worth it" for the new car, it is a very positive thing that has emerged from a bad situation.

Despite the chaos of the spring semester...: I still pulled of A's and B's. Not bad/Close enough!

Inception: I feel like my life is better having seen that film.

2010 Ranger Baseball: Goodbye Hicks; Helloooo Greenberg-Ryan! Cannot be more excited about that ownership change and the future of the club as a result of it. Getting Cliff Lee in July. Clinching the AL West in Oakland the same day the Longhorn football team lost to UCLA. Lee in the ALDS. A-Rod's face and Eric Nadel's call at the end of the ALCS. And finally, playing as one of two teams left standing in Major League Baseball. How cool was that for our Texas Rangers? Not to mention the experience of actually attending a World Series game! That was so incredible. Fellow Ranger fans: That was fun, wasn't it? New fans: Welcome aboard! Still non-fans: I'd apologize for the excessive freakouts throughout the semester and at LHB rehearsals during games, but that would mean I'd be apologizing for caring, and I can't do that ;)

Troy Kimmel in GRG 301K: He made me laugh this fall at least twice every TTH sometime between 11 and 12:15. Little things in life, yes?

University of Texas Class Ring: Growing up isn't bad at all; I just wish it would have given me some warning before it went to work!

Family: We have issues. Surprise, right? But if we, with God's help, can get through all of the issues at hand, we will be able to look back on this knowing that it only strengthened the love that I know we still have for each other.

FRIENDS: Grew closer with some friends this past semester, and made some fantastic memories with those people and even a few new friends. Y'all know who you are, and I love each and every one of you :)

Do a couple of those goods outweigh some of the bads? Perhaps. But as I look back on the year as a whole, I find myself more frustrated and worn out than I have in any years past. Maybe that is a part of becoming an adult. Maybe it's because a traumatic car accident 22 days into the new year is just not a good way to start things off. But I'd argue that the past 12 months were something less than spectacular for me personally, and I think that acknowledging that it was a tough year helps in preparation for a new one. A new year that, for all intents and purposes, will be my last as a student attending classes (since next spring will only be an internship). A new year that will see my baby brother graduate high school and my older sister get married. And a new year that will usher us into a new decade and me to the age of 21, so that I may buy my own alcoholic drinks and rent my own cars, if need be.

So here is to an awkward cap on the "Aughts," as they are apparently called. Hey 2011, I don't know if you knew this yet, but you are gonna be awesome. And no, you do not have a choice in the matter :)

Everybody falls sometimes, Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache, You think it’s more than you can take
But you're stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now, The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds, To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end, Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered, Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

"What Faith Can Do" --Kutless

"That was totally my fault!"

--This is broken into parts because it's a long story and I don't have the time or mental energy to sit down and write it all together. So.. here is Part 1.--

I have no class on Fridays. For the first time in my college career, I get a three day weekend every week. It's a pretty sweet gig, but with this free time, I am supposed to be working this semester and making money to keep me at this awesome university. Since last Friday was my first one off, I decided to go out and apply as many places as possible. I thought Hobby Lobby up at 183 and Lamar might be a good place to start since it is reasonably close to my apartment, the hours are not ridiculous, and it's supposedly a very employee-friendly place. So I headed north on Lamar, realized it was January 22, and called my grandmother to wish her a happy birthday. Because I could not think of an alternate way to get to Hobby Lobby, I planned to go underneath the 183 bridge, turn left, and make a u-turn under the next available spot to get to it on the right side of the highway. The first light before going under the bridge was green, so me and the 8 cars in front of me continued through the intersection. At this point, my grandma and I had shifted our conversation to other things like school and the bi-polarity of the weather the past few weeks. As soon as I got into the intersection (with my green light still present), I saw a streak of what I remember to be blue flying at me very quickly. I did not see it through the windshield, I saw it peripherally through my window when it was about one inch from my car door. It was in that split of a split second, that I honestly thought my life was over.

I don't remember if I screamed in my grandma's ear, but I do remember hearing that unmistakable sound of cars colliding, feeling a force that I've never felt before in my life, and my vision being limited to a sea of blue-green (which turned out to be the air bag). My car kept moving, but I could feel that something was wrong and that I was slowing down. When it went up on a curb and finally stopped, I opened my eyes to see my windshield completely spider-webbed, and took a breath of the smell of airbag. With both hands close to my face (I guess I had moved them there for instinctual protection?), I looked around and said aloud, "I can't pay for this!" What a college kid, right? But I had apparently drifted onto the median that holds the supporting poles underneath the bridge, which means I crossed two lanes of traffic without getting hit again. Incredible. A car had pulled over next to me, and the couple inside rolled down their window to ask if I was okay. Since I could hear them, I noticed my window was completely gone, shattered on my lap, chair, and the floor beneath my feet. I don't think I replied back to them, mainly because I was shaking, in shock, and trying to look around to see what the heck had just happened. After about 20 seconds, an older lady runs over to me and says, "Oh my gosh, are you okay?!"
Me: "... I... I don't know."
Guilty Lady: "I'm so sorry! That was completely my fault! I just wasn't paying attention!"
Me: (still shaking) "... Okay...?"
She ran back over to what was apparently her vehicle, which was still back in the intersection.

At this point, the couple got out and told me that I was bleeding. I looked in the rear view mirror, saw the blood all over my chin, and simply said, "SonuvaBITCH!" The guy asked once again if I was generally okay, to which I replied, "I think so, yeah." As I heard him calling 911 and reporting where the accident was and what had happened, the lady asked if I had any family in town that she could call.
Me: (Keep in mind, this is amidst tears of shock, a VERY shaky voice, and quick and shallow breaths) "No, I'm not from here. I'm a student."
Lady: "Okay, any friends to come pick you up?"
Me: "They're all in class. But we should call my dad. His name is Terry."
I told her his cell number, which I was apparently thinking clearly enough to give, and she called him on her phone. When I looked around and saw my phone and battery separated and mixed with glass on the floor, and the back cover in the dashboard, I thought I was screwed. I HAD to have my phone... I literally knew no one's numbers, and I did not want to go through whatever I was about to go through by myself. As I picked the parts up, the lady handed me her phone so I could talk to my dad. I don't remember what I said or if he could even understand me, but I guess he got the basic gist of what happened.

I gave the nice lady back her phone, then decided that I wanted to get out of the car. About the time I tried to open my door (which was, of course, impossible), I remember hearing sirens, then being told by the guy to just take it easy and sit and breathe for a bit. Another Hispanic-looking guy had also pulled over and brought over some moist towelettes. He put a few in my hand, then placed the other on my chin so that I knew where I was bleeding from. I thanked him profusely for this small act of kindness, he nodded, and walked off. It had probably been about 10 minutes of waiting, when a cop approached my window to check on me. First, I would like to say that he was freaking hot. He was the perfect distraction to a mind in chaos. He suggested that I get out of the car, but said that I would have to crawl over to the passenger side to get out because there was no way my door was going to open. I made my way across the glass that had gone everywhere, and out the passenger door that had even jammed from the impact.

Once I finally stood up, my knees were shaky, my hands were still shaky, my breathing was still very panicked, and I was still crying tears of shock. He asked if I had called anyone yet to come pick me up, and I said that I didn't really have anyone. At this point, he put his arms around me and simply told me, "You're okay. I know that was scary, but you're gonna be alright." A hug was all that it took... I felt better getting out of the car and having someone there to just hold me for a second. He asked for license, insurance, and my story of what happened. The couple was trying to get out of there, so they told me that the police had their number if I needed anything else. Even though I said thank you like nine times, I hope they realize how awesome they really were. Somehow an ambulance appeared; no idea when it got there. But one EMT came over to the median I was standing on and did a few procedural checks to make sure I was okay. Feeling more calm and collected, I told him that I was alright. Really shaken up, but alright, and that I didn't think I needed to go to the hospital.

Mr. Cute Cop walked back over, returned my license and insurance, and said they could find someone to take me home, but suggested I find a friend to come pick me up.
Cutie Patootie: "Any friends that you can call?"
Me: "I have a roommate."
CP: "Are y'all friends?"
Me: "Yeah. Okay. Hang on."
I gathered the phone parts, pieced it back together, and it STILL worked. Uh-may-zing. So I called Camille, but she didn't answer. Then I called Kristy Moryan. No answer. Rachel Frey. No answer. /sigh/ "Well... I might as well go to the hospital. I'm just gonna go home and cry anyway, right?" I had been talking to my dad off and on throughout this whole thing, but every time I tried, some authority person on the scene wanted to talk to me, which was very frustrating. The EMT finally suggested that I grab some stuff out of my car that I might need. LUCKILYYYY I had a Dillard's bag in the back seat because I bought some jeans with a gift card, so I started throwing in things I did not want to get stolen. I took my CD visor, the flashlight from my glove compartment, my ice scraper, the key chains off of the car keys (couldn't get the key out of the ignition), and my C+ parking permit. My head was working pretty well if I thought to grab the permit, haha.

As I walked around to the other side of the car, I finally saw the damage that had been done. I looked at it only twice because I found that it made me incredibly angry. My front left tire was steaming, it looked like. The was a ginormous indention remarkably close to where I sit. "How am I not bleeding anywhere else?" I thought to myself as I checked my stomach and ribs. There was glass all over the road, and my entire front bumper had been dislodged and was back in the intersection. As I glanced that way, and I saw the other vehicle. Didn't see what it was, the color, or what kind of shape it was in. I just remember seeing that it was way over there and that I was way over here. Kinda weird, huh? I find it weird.

The EMT then told me to get in the ambulance and sit down. I texted my dad Camille's phone number so that he could try to get a hold of her while I did hospital things. I also suggested that he call Grandma, since I had no idea what she had heard. I was worried she was at home freaking out, but thankfully she just assumed the call had dropped. I asked the EMT if we got to use the siren for the ride to the hospital. He said, "No. You're not dying and it costs more money. Do you want it?"
"NO."
"Any medical problems in your family?"
"My mom has really high blood pressure." (as he wraps around the band to take mine)
...
He raised his eye brows when he saw it, though he wouldn't tell me what it was.
"I was just t-boned on my side of the car, that's not fair!"

As I argued, we started to pull away from the scene to head for the hospital.



--The next part will be up when I can get around to writing it :)--

How I got Locked Between Two Doors

My mom got married last Saturday on July 4. I remember her saying that she didn't want to have to pay for fireworks at her wedding, so the Fourth would make perfect sense for free pyrotechnics. However, as I remember that night (which is a bit fuzzy, I'll admit), we were in the middle of the Tucson Botanical Gardens with trees all around us. I also remember that our Cumbia-dancing, alcohol-consuming, celebratory selves were not interrupted by any fireworks at any point in that evening. Way to go, Mom. In all fairness, I suppose you were consumed with other fireworks that night... Not including the ones fired after you guys left for the evening.

My sister, brother, and I got up early Sunday morning to say bye to family heading back to Sacramento, but then I laid down on the couch and fell right back into my unconscious recovery state. I woke up like four hours later to find a note on top of my phone. I concluded that it was from Andrew because of his I'm-stuck-in-4th-grade handwriting, only to later read the note and find his name signed at the end. In retrospect, I should have started with that first. He wrote something to the effect of, "At the mall with Stacy getting my watched fixed. We have our phones." Called my mom in search of what to do with myself, and she decided that we would meet them at the mall. However, instead of going all the way across Tucson to come get me, she was sending my two new cousins and step sister to pick me up at 1:30. It was one o'clock. Okay... no shower.

One of my cousins came up to knock on the door so that I would know they were there (since we don't have each other's phone numbers or anything yet), and I told her that I'd grab my shoes and my purse and be right out. So she retreats to the A/C-filled car. Lucky her. Now, before I try to explain this next part, it should be known that Joe's house (the guy that just married my mom) has a regular front door, a couple feet of "porch", if you will, then a metal screen door for security. Stacy and Andrew took Joe's spare keys with them to the mall, so I made sure to lock the front door behind me. As I turned the handle on the screen door and push to open, I was quite startled to discover that the screen door had been locked. The only way to unlock it? With a key that was with Joe/my mom and it's twin with my siblings. Yep. I was stuck between the two; a caged lion in the Arizona heat (because that's what I am... a lion). To make matters worse, my ride was in the driveway that was NOT VISIBLE from my walls of confinement. So here I was, locked in the gap between the front and screen doors, with no numbers of the people waiting for me, and with the keys to freedom not anywhere within 20 minutes of the house. PLUS the fact that I was outside in Arizona in July. At least I was in the shade, otherwise things would have gotten ugly really quick.

Again, I called my Mommy Dearest: "Uh, Mom? Yeah sorry to bug you, but I'm kinda locked between the two doors at Joe's, and I don't have Korina's number to call her to tell her that I won't be able to make it to the car..." Predictably, she laughed, told Joe, then said she was on her way and would be there in about 10 minutes. That's actually about 20-30 minutes. I love my mom, but sometimes she's not the best at estimating distances in time. Sure enough, 22 minutes later (yes, I kept track of every single minute) and her and Joe pulled up and brought a key to my rescue. Only after another good and slightly disbelieving laugh.

Thus, my sentence was over. I choose the word "sentence" because that's what I get for getting excessively drunk the night before. Not just I-bet-I-could-kick-your-ass-Just-kidding-let's-be-friends drunk. It was more along the lines of I-don't-enjoy-dancing-but-put-me-in-the-middle-of-a-big-circle-and-watch-me-break-it-down drunk. And around new family. I had a great time, don't get me wrong. And my mom says that Joe's side thought I was hilarious and a lot of fun to be around (whew!). But me experiencing the worst part of my hangover while stuck in the gap between the doors was punishment for being that Maid of Honor that ends up in everyone's pictures with inexplicably ridiculous faces.

But ya know, I sure as hell don't regret having a fantastic time. And I'll probably consume an alcoholic beverage or two at the next event celebrating a lifetime unity. Bring it on, wedding gods. You are too far in my future for me to give a damn about what you think.

"I got hit by a car" Full Story:

Ok, so I need to share:

Yesterday I was walking from Littlefield to UFCU Disch-Falk Field for the baseball game v. Texas Tech. I was crossing the access road at Manor Rd (at the time of the it's-ok-to-cross sign, I might add), and noticed that one car with an Indian lady and three adorable children was not slowing down a whole lot. Then she appeared to be stopping, and what I confused with an acknowledgment of my presence turned out to be a rolling stop followed by an attempted right turn on red. So she slows, I take a step, she accelerates to complete her turn, I step to my left to avoid the impact, and her bumper hit my thigh. It knocked me off my feet and sent me flying a couple yards into the otherwise ghostly intersection. After scrambling to my feet after a moment of shock, I gave the lady my "Are you serious?!" face while she sat in her car, mouth agape, eyes bugging out, and hands on her head. She asked, "Oh my... You want me to take you to hospital?!" to which I calmly, yet slightly passive aggressively replied, "No, I'm late for a baseball game." As I glanced at the other members of her brigade, they seemed to have the same reaction as their chauffeur, and the car rolled on to complete the right turn.

The aftermath: No, I did not get any insurance information or license plate number because the injury seems to just be a bruised upper right thigh. No, "bruised" does not actually mean that it's showing. My leg looks completely normal... no battle wound or anything... freaking crap. Yes, I went to the game. I wasn't gonna let some stupid dumb driver prevent me from going to support my Longhorns. No, no serious injuries. Just a very tender leg that only hurts a little bit on the stairs.

It's actually kind of funny, now that I reminisce on the incident. It was more shocking at the time than anything else. Anywho, I thought I'd fill all of you guys in on my excitement of yesterday.



Opening Day in a week and a day!!

Play Ball.

This is not my original idea. It is the work of the genius Jamey Newberg and his unfaltering ability to say everything with no words.

Some of My Favorites

Oddly enough, Snuggies have actually done pretty well for themselves:


Courtesy of JP:


Watch this poor girls ankles:


Having trouble finding a reason in life?


The title on this video is self-explanatory:


This one is on here for the third baby that is shown:


Boys will be boys. If only we could hear the "Let's Go Rangers!" that resonated through Shea Stadium that night:


I loved this movie. And I'm glad that it got Best Original Music... it was fantastic:


And because I STILL die laughing at about half of these:

Picker-Uppers

The internet is a lovely thing.

One for the mantle.


To the parents of Michael Scott:


It was bound to happen at some point...


Being subtle and classy aren't two of their strengths


Quite possibly the most useful hat ever.


My kind of calculus... Very logical.

I just love the humor of college kids.

Here's to the conclusion of a 2008 season for the record books!

Thanks for the Heads Up.

After completing my first semester, I have compiled a list of things I wish someone would have told me before heading down to Austin.

1. A college syllabus is for real. It's not like those lame high school ones where teachers give it to you to say that they did and so you can have a general idea of how the grading percentages work out. I honestly threw away every syllabus that I got in high school because they were really not very necessary. In college, a syllabus is the key to life. Professors stick to these and expect you to know when quizzes and exams are happening because "it's on the syllabus". Would have been nice to know.

2. All girls dorms kinda suck. Not that I'm bringing guys home every night or anything, but if one of my friends comes up while I grab something, I get the dirtiest looks from the girls studying in the living room downstairs. And it's not the fact that it's a friend coming up... it's the fact that my friend does not have boobs and a vagina. USually I just brush their looks off, especially when I come in late from a football game that they have no clue even happened. But when I'm trying to be courteous and keep a pal out of the elements, I think bitchy honors student girls should get over themselves and bury their noses back into their books.

3. Read read read. There is not enough time on the weekends to catch up on reading assignments when all of Saturday goes to football. There is also not enough time before midterms and finals to try to cram it all in with hopes of making an A. I wish staying caught up really would have been emphasized to me, though it may have taken me experiencing it myself for me to completely believe it anyway.

4. Workout times are hard to come by. With the stress of classes and the schedule of LHB, I really had a hard time getting over to Gregory. In addition to it being not so close to my dorm, it is always super crowded, no matter when you go. And I've heard the rec center is always fairly empty compared to Gregory, but that is literally on the opposite corner of the 40 Acres. While I'm struggling to keep up in class, the last thing that I wanna spend more precious time doing is going across campus, even if working out really is an enjoyable and stress-relieving activity. I was running and doing some ab work every day for a while, but then midterms came around and I decided that I was better served studying than sweating. Unfortunately, I never got back into the same routine. I miss the scheduled regularity from high school athletics, and after I excercise I really do feel better. Definitely something I'm going to get a hold of during the coming semester.

5. Desks in rooms serve little purpose. They are meant as a studying space, but only for those with strong self-discipline. I tried doing serious studying in my room for a while... that was not a success. Libraries are the best place, I've found, because everyone around you is doing it and it motivates you to stay focused. In my room, I'm on Facebook or YouTube goofing off instead of focusing on the material. In the libraries, I am infinitely more productive and feel more accomplished when I get home and finally get to sleep. So in the future, out of the room is definitely the way to go.

6. Um, and thanks for the warning about how much I would miss baesball season. It's different being in Austin during the offseason because I feel so far away from everything Rangers, and it breaks my heart. Austin seems devoted to the Astros, and I miss driving on highways and seeing random billboards for those wonderful boys of Arlington. I guess it's part of it, but I do miss being closer to the Ballpark in case I feel the need to make my heart smile by taking a visit. C'mon Spring Training... ya can't come soon enough :)



These surprises did not overshadow the greatness in this semester. More later on the highlights from Fall 2008 :)

I would just like to share...

... that it is snowing in Austin, Texas. And not little whimpy flakes. They are big, fat, LEGIT flakes. Before I made it outside, I heard doors being slammed up and down the halls with girls eager to get outside and catch a flake on their tongues and eyelashes. I took a brief walk around campus and saw several streakers (typical) and cute couples walking hand in hand, cuddled up next to each other.

Though, this snow is kind of weird because it was literally 75 degrees this afternoon. I got breakfast/lunch in a tshirt and shorts, and I just put on leggings, long socks, pants, a long-sleeved shirt, tshirt, and jacket to go to the tower and back.

On my way back I heard several passing conversations of, "How am I supposed to study when it's doing this?!" and "OMG, I have a final tomorrow. But I've never seen snow before so I feel like I HAVE to be outside or something." It was kind of cool. Everyone had been buried in their books for hours and are planning on doing so for a couple more. However, with one swift mention of the word "snow", students jumped from their studying, piled on the layers, and were soon prancing about and giggling in the wintery weather like little kids. God plans the coolest study breaks.

The weather outside is FINALLY startin' to look a little frightful. And as I gaze out of my window at the sheet of white flakes floating down from the Austin sky, I can't help but whistle a familiar tune. After all, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.


Happy Finals, everyone :)

Basking in the Shade

Got me thinking:
Mark 4:31-32: "[The kingdom of God] is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."
Hebrews 6:1: "Therefore let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying against the foundation of repentance of acts that lead to death, and of the faith of God..."
1 Corinthians 14:36-38: " Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. If he ingores this, he himself will be ignored."
Philippians 1:25-26: "Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me."
Obviously up to interpretation, but this is what I got: Mature in faith from the mustard seed foundation from which you were given. Spread the good news and what Christ is doing in your life and be a disciple for God. You are not meant to be a dead end for His word, but rather a catalyst in spreading the good news that we do have an unconditional, loving God. Be a tree that people can bask in the glory of the Lord, reaching far and providing shade to those in search of it. The kingdom is INEVITABLE, so stop planning for the church in the future and help EXPAND the church in the now.

While discussing the American Revolution my HIS315K class last week and while I was zoning in and out of the lecture, I noticed something amusing. My professor was showing us the portrait on the left of Washington and went off on some random tangent (not uncommon), but while he was explaining it, this is what I saw...

I think what made it funnier is that it brought this image to my mind from one of my favorite movies, Airplane!...


I literally almost laughed out loud :)

Camille and I are going to take a look at a possible apartment for next year in a couple hours. Should be fun!!

And now to get back to writing about social narratives, norms, and competing moral orders in movies. I'm halfway done and it's due at 2 PM tomorrow. I've really got to get a hold of this procrastination issue.

My favorite center

Remember the centers from kindergarten or preschool? I always looked forward to the arts and crafts center WAY more than the house center. This is my creative effort for the week. All of these pictures were done in Paint, and yes, a five year old could do them better with his foot.


I took part in early voting this past week. Not only was I the only McCain-er in line (as made evident my the glares given right after Kristy shouted, "No you can't vote! You're gonna vote Republican!"), but I will be one of the only right-sided votes from the entire campus. Yeah minority.



LHB had Parents Weekend. This one is pretty self-explanatory.



This almost didn't happen. What an exciting game though, very intense. Now on to Texas Tech... it would have been a rough game anyway, but it being our final game of a four week Death March through the Big XII AND having the game in Lubbock is going to make it even tougher. Our team is just so tired... we can only hope they have four quarters left in them.



Camille and I were listening some good 'ol Shania Twain last night. When "Honey, I'm Home" came on, I was thrown back to those prepubescent years when Stacy rented a karaoke machine for a birthday party. After all her friends had left, I saw it fit to fill the Chadwell household with my beautiful rendition of the song. Thus, the end of my vocal career. (NOTE: the asteric around "pms" is because I thought I was breaking some sort of rule saying the term. I would always get super quiet when that part came around.. just to avoid any kind of trouble)



While bringing back laundry to my room last night, Aly, who lives next door, was walking out of her room. This was her outfit; the epitome of a trendy sheep. Please take notice in her overly fake-baked skin, 80s throwback of the sideways ponytail, the Tyler's shirt-Nike shorts combo that all the sorostitutes wear every single day, the random assortment of colors making up the Nike shorts, the UGG boots (completely unnecessary in last night's weather), AND the oh-so-favorite Coach bag. I had to run into my room and shut the door to avoid laughing right in front of her.

Finally, some time!

Apparently is has been a very long time since I've spilled my life into the world through my computer. I don't know how exactly to do this efficiently because quite a bit has happened over the past few weeks...

Alright, so OU Weekend was AWESOME! LHB left Friday morning, so I had to miss a couple classes. On the way down we watched True Lies, which is now the trumpet bus's favorite movie mainly because all of the guys had their jaw dropped in amazement of Jamie Lee Curtis and her undiscovered and very full chest. We arrived at Richardson HS around 3:30 and had rehearsal. My dad, Stacy, my cousin, and my uncle came, so seeing them in the stands was really a boost to the day. I was most proud of my uncle who, even though he has a Red Raider heart, came out to watch probably one of his least favorite college bands play one of his least favorite songs, haha. That night a few us went to BJ's to eat it seriously took us 3 and a half hours to get in, get food, and leave. Stupid Addison. Long night, 3 hours of sleep, and we were met with a lovely breakfast in the morning before we loaded up buses and headed to Fair Park. By the way, police escorts are so cool... we would never have gotten in/out efficiently without them. We went through regular warmup routines and whatnot, then were told to line up in parade block with the newmen at the front (lucky us). Because the only tunnel entrance in the Cotton Bowl is on the OU half of the stadium, those oh-so-kind Sooner fans lined up to give the Longhorn Band their best. They shouted such nice things like, "What the fuck is "fringe" anyway?" and "I bet you guys have great hairy butt sex down in Texas". Oh, and my personal favorite: "FUCK YOU!" Sooners are just so intelligent. Overall, the walk in was not that bad. I had heard horror stories of people trying to take mouthpieces and getting stuff thrown at them, but all that I really experienced were every cuss word in the book, to which I combated with a smile and a simple, confident "Hook 'em horns! Yeah, let's go Texas!" It was funny being in the middle of all of them because two of our drum cadence chants seemed to be louder than ever before: "Beat the hell outta OU!" and "OUFUCKINSUCKS!" (yes, one word as fast as it can be said). Wall-to-Wall Band during pregame went great and I got the tricky step-off in Grandioso... yay. Unfortunately during the game, I heavily relied on the jumbotron because, well, this was my view from where I sat on the last row of trumpets and almost the last row of the band:

Impressive, right? We were such media whores all day... any camera lense that was looking in our remote direction resulted in a massive upheaval of hook 'ems and jumping up and down so that we could tell friends and family, "I was the one near (some identifiable object) jumping up and down with a (some instrument) in my hands! Did you see me? You didn't?! Weird, I was jumping really high..." The actual game was the best sporting event that I have ever been to in my life. There were so many great plays, those that were controversial (the "Heisman Award for acting"), and of course the never-ending fight of that Texas team. It was so loud the entire game, and I had never experienced any atmosphere like that before. Oh, and in case you live in a freaking hole or something, we freaking BTHO OU 45-35! We marched out after crashing the ESPN Gameday post-game wrap up with a very loud and lively "Texas Fight", loaded buses, and arrived back in Austin at about 6:00. Had time to even have an evening... though I actually ended up staying in and passing out from exhaustion.

Last night was initiation for Betas, but I won't go into detail because I think it's supposed to be a secret AND I'm way too lazy to recall everything about the process. Two main feelings: very smelly and very cold. But with the initiation brings the 2008 pledge classes official induction into Beta Lambda Gamma "sorority." I use that term loosely because we really aren't like a regular sorority in that we don't do any kind of community services, pay any dues (as far as I know), and are not even official by university standards. We purely exist to host parties and have a good time. Our first mission is the Halloween party. The new classes of Beta-Bunch (Bunchers are our brother frat that function pretty much on the same guidelines) are completely in charge of putting that on... should be fun :)

School work has really picked up and I've been kind of stressed out lately trying to keep up. I decided to drop Astronomy for a couple reasons. Number one, the lecture style is not for me. It's extremely difficult to understand the prof and his tests NEVER consist of anything from lecture. Two, all the times that review sessions and homework help are hosted, I have LHB. The class is hard and I need these times if I want to do well on every-week pop quizzes and and impossible tests. And three, my GPA would have suffered had I stayed in the class with the circumstances at hand. It's hard for me to quit anything and is definitely not in my personality to wave the white flag. I think it was a mature decision and is beneficial for where I am at right now.

Had my first sleep in yesterday morning. Was finishing up some Beta flask-making until 11:30, got home about 11:50 and began a 5 pg paper about Rangers Ballpark in Arlington at midnight. Completed that at about 4:30, showered and was in bed by 4:45. I was hoping my body would take the nap approach and treat the sleep as just a little snooze session. I even put my alarm on extra loud to make sure that I wake up and get to my 8 o'clock (for which the paper was due) and my 9:30 (for which I have a midterm on Tuesday). I rolled over at 10:35, said a brief, frustrated word in realization that I missed both classes, and emailed my prof to see if I could still get the interpretation essay in by the 11 o'clock deadline. A quick stroll over to his office across the street and I experienced victory.

After watching "Under the Tuscan Sun" earlier this afternoon, I have decided that I want to live in Italy someday. Ok, maybe more realistically at least visit.

I'm kind of tuning in and out of a Big Foot program. They exist. So do ghosts and aliens. Judge me if you will.

For all of you C-line trumpeteers out there, "Carmen" totally looks like "Comer". If you disagree, you should consider sucking it :)

Big game tomorrow!! Mizzou will be tough and it'll be interesting to see how the Horns respond after last Saturday's win. We'll see if we can contain Chase Daniel and that fierce Tiger offense. LHB is playing on ESPN College Gameday tomorrow from 10-11... check it out!

Oh, and LSU won the Battle of the Bands. Thank you everyone for voting, but apparently LSU's slightly less than subtle dancers PLUS their pity card won them the $25,000. Oh well. 'Twas fun, nonetheless.

For your enjoyment: "The Eyes of Texas" from Texas-OU...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAWWcmUO__M

Told ya this post was gonna be long.

I'm gonna be on NATIONAL TV!!

Alright, so here's the deal: ESPN came out a few weeks ago to shoot Longhorn Band playing the Indiana Jones theme to help promote the release of the DVD that I guess is pretty soon. Six other bands were also filmed playing their own rendition of the theme, and we are all competing for the feature spot on ESPN Gameday, our footage to be on the DVD, AND $25,000. And here is where I need YOUR help... Winners are decided based on who gets the most votes. You can vote once a day, so if everyone holds true to that we should be able to win this. Go ahead and watch the other bands if you want, but you will realize very soon that VOTING TEXAS is clearly your best choice :)

http://promo.espn.go.com/espn/contests/indianajones/meetTheBands

Reasons why we are going to win:
1. We got a night-time shooting at DKR... badass.
2. Big Bertha.
3. Our arrangement of the theme is the best.
4. "They Eyes of Texas" is at the very end of the song because we're awesome and super proud that we are Longhorns.
5. Our feature twirler, Alexa, uses FLAMING BATONS.
6. Our trumpets don't frack nearly as many notes as some of the others, most notably USC.

And of course, because that is yours truly at 1:43. Yep. Hello America... my name is Rebecca Chadwell and my hat is too big.

Seriously though, tell your friends and vote every day up to October 11! Hook 'em!!

Do you ever wonder...

... what it's like to be on a field in front of 98,000 screaming football fans wearing burnt orange? Your wait is over.

This didn't last long because I turned my camera on too late. I was going to get the last part of cadence, the entrance through the sealed gates, AND the drumline, but all that I really got was drumline. Maybe I'll try at the next home game...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFmYwDK9N5Q (blogspot won't upload the video and it won't let me embed the youtube vid... so there is link)

And this one is unnecessarily long because I wasn't sure exactly how long we'd be waiting in the tunnel. The first week we ran through, last week we waited for like 10 minutes... so I just kept rolling. Sorry about the quality. Number one, it's a camera, not a video camera. Number two, it was really bright, so that combined with a lot of movement kinda freaked the camera out. And number three, it was really really stinking loud. You won't get the full effect, but I figure it can give you a taste of the rush that comes with the intro to a University of Texas football game!

My heart is slowly breaking.

Many of you probably didn't know this because you don't care, but yesterday was the Rangers' last home game for the 2008 season. We won 14-4 in a very fitting, offensively strong showing, but also had a fantastic performance by rookie Matt Harrison. He is one of many reasons to be excited for the upcoming seasons; however, keep in mind that it may not be next season quite yet. The team still has some polishing to do like settling on one solid catcher and narrowing down the very talented outfield, tasks which I'm sure John Hart, Nolan Ryan, Jon Daniels, and Ron Washington have already started working on. Which, by the way, what in the world are we going to do with Hank Blalock?! I hate trading him off, but we don't have a spot for him and he is definitely great trading material in trying to find reliable starting pitching. Decisions decisions decisions. 2009 will be better... hopefully more like the Texas Rangers we all witnessed and loved in June and July.

I'm going to miss baseball. I already am. Although, I guess I've had an easy let down. Little by little the Rangers are slowly vanishing from my life this season. I was pretty hardcore for a while, but then I had to leave for Austin where I only get the game if they show it on FSN and decide to go with the Dallas feed instead of the Houston feed. Then I had Hell Week for LHB, where I didn't do anything except bond with my trumpet. Next came some off time, so I could watch games here and there, but it got to where I didn't want to because they had gotten so bad. Yesterday was the last time we'll see The Ballpark in 2008 (and you guys have no idea how freaking badly I wanted to be there). And Sunday afternoon is the final game of the season, that thankfully will be shown on FSN. I guess I gotta find some other team to care about in October... again.
(subnote: Mr. Huston Street did not pitch yesterday. I haven't seen him throw at all this season... how very very sad.)


And now for a few other random things floating through my brain...

I took an Astronomy test on Monday. Wanna know how it went? Let's see... do you know how long a day in Alaska is in comparison to a day in Texas? Yeah, neither did I (and we NEVER learned that. I pay attention and take great notes in that class. It's nowhere to be found).

Apparently an elephant was electrocuted to death at Coney Island as entertainment way back in the day. We watched it in my AMS class.

Tofu=GROSS. I thought I'd give it a shot since the Kinsolving cafeteria has it all the time. Don't ever do that. It tastes like plastic and I couldn't even find it in myself to swallow. ...that's what she said (I'm sorry, I'm sorry.. I typed it and had to complete what half of you guys are undoubtedly thinking).

Season 5 of "The Office" premeires tonight!!! :D I have missed the Jim-Dwight antics.

So I went to a bible study last night with a friend. Not gonna lie, I was kind of skeptical on if I would find a place that I could experience some spiritual guidance, but I left that lecture hall so insanely refreshed I just felt like passing out on the South Mall. I've felt like something has been missing since I've moved down here, but I kinda just chalked it up to not having family around and being in a place that I don't know every nook and cranie nearly as well as I knew Denton's. After going to the hour and half rejuvenation period last night, I immediately knew that I had found a place that I can continue to attend and grow closer to God. One of the best parts was when current students got up and gave personal testimonies about how they are giving complete control to the Lord, acknowledging that He has a plan, and sharing the amazing ways that He is working in their lives. This really struck me because it wasn't an adult pastor or even an upper-20s youth leader looking back at their college years... it was a student just like me, experiencing UT right now, still professing this kind of faith, and committing to whatever God has in store for them. The hall was so alive with God's presence that I found myself reaching up to wipe away a small tear during the praise songs. It was so inspirational, which is something I have been missing for a very long time. I cannot wait until next week.

Going home next weekend. It's the only weekend I have off pretty much the entire first semester and I want to see my dog. And OF COURSE my family :) My full size bed, bigger than 11'5" x 17'9" single room, and carpeted floor are calling my name.

A Message to the Masses.

Dear Students of the University of Texas,

After being with you for all of 3 weeks, I have a few things to say:

1. Learn to walk: As I hope you have noticed, there are busier times around campus when everyone is trying to get to class. This is NOT the time to spread 7 across the entire sidewalk (which, by the way, was built big enough to accommodate large amounts of people, so that's saying something if you are blocking it). If you are a slower walker (which is ok.. really, that doesn't bother me) you should consider walking as close to the grass as possible. Better yet, just be aware of the people around you that would like to move a little quicker. If you are in the center of the sidewalk and get that strange feeling like someone is staring a laser beam right through your skull, someone probably is and that someone is probably me.
2. Learn to ride a bike: Just because your mode of travel has two wheels instead of two feet, that does not mean you are more important. Ok, maybe it does, but you guys really should watch the people around you. I was trying to get to my Kines class at Bellmont yesterday (only 5 minutes late... I'm getting faster, haha) and heard the dreaded my-bike-is-on-coast-because-I'm-going-down-a-hill clicky sound, making me turn around just in time to jump out of the way of an biker. Instead of riding on the emptier side of the shrubbery, you choose to plow through the thick of the student population around Speedway and 24th. You know the spot. Invest in a bell or something... it would help us out. Note to fellow walkers: get out of the way of these inconsiderate bikers. They will not stop and they will run you over like the insignificant piece of foot traffic that you are.
3. Learn to SPEAK!: Holy freaking crap, I had no idea that communication is really this difficult. What could be said in 5 seconds you find a way to drag out to an entire pain-staking minute of awkwardness and word fumbling. Plan what you are going to say before you open your mouth. And I don't mean be ridiculous and prepare every single word, but have at least your first sentence in your mind. I have noticed that many of you hand-raisers have the general concept (actually, I'm being generous... some have the general concept) of what you'd like to share with the class, but I've heard SO many answers/responses that just meander through the brain that is attached to the speaking mouth that I want to smack you across the face. And if you watch the professor you are talking to, they nod their head and try to interject to keep moving, yet you continue to try to make sense and think aloud. Class time would be insanely more efficient if you would just be concise in your thought. Better yet, let someone else speak. I bet they can get the message across without misleading their peers to write random, pointless notes trying to follow your thought pattern.
4. Learn to smell like nothing: Regular body aroma is one thing, but when you use coconut melon shampoo, raspberry conditioner, sweet pea body splash, and vanilla lotion, that is not being nice to those forced to sit next to you for 45 minutes or 75 minutes. If you find that your chair neighbor is leaning away from you, constantly has their hand to their nose, or is sneezing, I may be talking to you. Pick one scent. It's not bad to smell nice, it's bad to have everything that the nose identifies as "girlie" on your body at the same time.
5. Learn this: Yes, everyone is eavesdropping on your conversation in hopes of hearing something to add to the great Facebook group "Overheard at UT." Happy convos!!

If you do not apply to any of these issues, then I love you for making Austin awesome. Thank you for using your brain. And that is sincere, no sarcasm here :)

ESPN comes out tonight for band, meaning it is fringe time. Not sure which I'm going to count as my first fringe experience, though... tonight to sit in the stands and play the Indiana Jones theme or on Saturday when we BTHO Arkansas. Probably the game... sounds way cooler.

Guess what I just wasted an hour doing?

Yep. Could have read about how "landscape in America" is not just a reference to mountains, bison, and city skylines. I'm not even sure why I did this. It started with me simply wanting a good picture of Mr. Street for the background on my laptop. Then it sort of evolved into, "Well, there are too many good ones, so I'll just cheat and use a few". Realization: "Oh wait, I don't have any kind of program that merges pictures. [googliiiiiiiing] Solved." And would ya look at that? 1 hour and 13 minutes later and I have a new desktop collage assured to bring smile upon every face that sees it.

Alright... onward to real work. In 12 hours I will be sitting in my AMS class (which, by the way, I'm not sure what I should call that. AMS class? Some people might not know what that means.. and I don't want to deter them from reading these oh-so-exciting insights into my brain. Alright, then draw it out: American Studies class. Then I'm asked what that is. Oh, it's my writing component. But the title of the actual course also sounds pretty nifty: American Places of Leisure. Right? But that takes too long to both say and write. Ugh... anyway, there you have my internal struggle). I'm expected to have all 16 pages of "Axioms for Reading the Cultural Landscape of America" by 8 tomorrow morning. Early classes can suck it.

Yesterday in my US Hist class, we talked in great lengths about the Mona Lisa and why she smiles, if she is actually smiling, what she is physically hiding behind her, her posture, etc. Many took the intelligent approach and said that she is arrogant because she knows something that we don't. Others believed she is not smiling at all, but more grimacing because she really didn't want to sit that long to be painted (stupid). Then one of our 300+ class's finest raised her orange little hand:

probable sorority girl: "Well, maybe her teeth are just really ugly and she didn't want to show them. I mean, when I had braces I never smiled."
class: "/awkward silence/ ha... ha. yeeeeeah.."

Oh the things you learn to not say at UT.


Done by 11 tomorrow. Can't argue with that.

Round No. 1

First Week of Classes: Well, kind of the first week. Everyone pretty much just gave us a syllabus then gave the always favorite "peace out". My Astronomy professor is alright... he's got a British accent but also has a speech impediment of some sort, so it makes listening to him for extended amounts of time slightly difficult. Sociology should be cool. Oh, except for the cross-campus treck that I am being asked to make in 10 minutes right after the class (which is completely unrealistic). Picture a box the size of, oh, let's say 40 acres. I go from the top left corner of the box to the right side of the box. And I can't leave Soc early because the prof is pretty insistent that he needs his full 50 minutes from 9-9:50. Intro to the Management of Sports starts at 10 at Bellmont (part of the stadium) and that prof is pretty insistent that we be on time. This may take a bit of negotiating. My American Places of Leisure writing course should be alright though. We will be writing about stadiums, parks, bars, bridges, malls, etc. in search of what attracts people to these places. And as an added bonus, my prof is kinda cute and witty, making the 8 AM start on TTH not quite as painful :)

First Pre-Game: Coolest thing ever. I thought I would be insanely nervous being in front of 98,000 people, but there was really no time to think about anything at all. We marched from the Music Building to DKR doing all the chants and dancing and people were stopping what they were doing to watch and cheer for us. Video cameras everywhere, flashes from the top of the stadium as we approached it.. it was pretty sweet. We went in through the huge university sealed gates and started to line up in the tunnel waiting to enter onto the field. My favorite part of the whole game experience yesterday was all the people that were crowded around the tunnel along the orange railing (see pictures in previous post) and that were lining up and shoving others out of the way to give high fives to us. To us. The band. I'd never experienced any enthusiasm and school spirit like that given toward the band. I tried to get my camera out to record the whole tunnel bit, but it didn't really work out (I'll give it another shot when we play Arkansas in a couple weeks). Pre-Game happened just like it should... and I DIDN'T MAKE ANY HORRIBLE MISTAKES! I was worried that the crowd would be intimidating, but again, there really wasn't any time to think about it. Once I finally looked around, I was already marching across the Bevo at midfield playing Texas Fight. We finished up and I paused to capture the moment:

First UT Game with LHB: Went well. Wasn't ridiculously crowded in the stands. And playing with a 400-member group is just spectacular... I am loving the fact that I cannot hear myself. The actual football game was kinda boring, but it was FAU. Each game will progressively get more exciting.

First Halftime/First Brush with Fame: Again, went okay. Easy show for the most part. Boring, but easy. Following the leader is always fun. Matthew McConoughey was there (like at every game), so I snagged a picture of him on the sideline as we went back to the stands.

First College Crush: Hot Snare Boy. I can't help it, he is just so dang good looking. It doesn't even really matter because nothing will come of it, but he took a step when I didn't and bumped his snare into my butt a couple days ago. I apologized for not giving him some more room, to which he simply grabbed my shoulder and said, "No no, don'tworry about it. It was my fault. *cue irrestible smile*" Talk about some weak knees... I felt like I was 80 or something. And I'm sure I just had a goofy grin on my face, which is exactly why I smiled but then turned away pretty quick.

First Day Off: It's nice. Woke up at 11:45 after being out kinda late last night... plus the fact that I was apparently completely exhausted. Got some breakfast/lunch across the street, did a little cleaning and picture uploading, and am about to read 42 exhilirating pages of "What is Sociology?" I'll head over to the gym in a bit... it's just so amazing that I can't not use it when I have some time. But my FAVORITE thing about today is probably the fact that, at this very moment, I am singing a familiar FSN theme as we close out the 8th inning of some good 'ol Ranger baseball. It is the first time since I have been in Austin that I have gotten to watch them, making this tiny little dorm feel a bit more like home.

Tomorrow is Labor Day. Yay for no class!

Hell Week is OVER :D

Austin has been home for only a week, but it feels like SO much longer. Unfortunately, pretty much all I've done is band the whole time, so indulge me while I discuss how AMAZING Longhorn Band is (with a litle bit of generic UT/Austin):

1. It is called "Hell Week" for a reason. Rehearsals from 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM make for quite a long day. Mornings have started in the Bubble, afternoons were filled with a 70-member trumpet sectional followed by a 400 member full band rehearsal. Evenings was more Bubble work. Yay for lunch and dinner breaks.
2. I never gave audition results... I made C-line, basically meaning that I get to play first part aaaaaall season long. Woo. We have C, D, E, and F lines, C being the highest, so I guess the tryout went well.
   
3. This is the loudest I have played in my life.
   
4. My lips hate me. I seriously cannot feel them anymore and it's been that way since about Saturday. I haven't played my trumpet this much... well, ever.
   
5. The trumpet section is kickass. Ninety-five percent of us were section leaders/drum majors at our high school. Makes for MUCH faster learning. And everyone is nice, really down to earth, and insanely funny. There is never a dull moment.. it's great!
   
6. Speaking of much faster learning, I can officially get through Pregame and our first halftime show for Saturday without dying. Pregame consists of the last half of Texas Fight, some new fanfare that the fans are supposed to love, Taps (Texas Fight with our semi-high knee taps stride down the field and back), March of the Longhorns, National Anthem, Deep in the Heart of Texas, Calypso, Grandioso, The Eyes of Texas, and more Texas Fight. While playing all of that, we move as a block down the field AND flip the thing around, make an interlocking UT, and a big T for the football team to run through. At halftime we do "Script Texas" and entertaine the crowd by playing The Yellow Rose of Texas, March of the Longhorns, Calyspo, and, of course, some good 'ol Texas Fight.
   
7. I realize that if you are actually reading this, it is likely that you don't know many, if any of listed songs. I mainly just wanted to make the point that I have learned and memorized a mind-blowing amount of music in the past week.
   
8. Referring back to the Taps in No. 5, the 180 that we do on the field is deadly. I have two counts to turn around and get two steps out of the way of the ridiculously hot snare drummer that marches behind me. I bumped into his elbow the first time we ran through it. It's questionable whether it was on accident or not. And this other tenor player (also very good looking) finds it amusing to lower his drums a slight bit as we pass each other. Something about it being funny to watch me flinch.
   
9. That reminds me: I didn't see too many gorgeous guys when I first got here, but as campus as filled in and I have talked more to Hot Snare Boy, I find that UT is living up to my expectations as far as looks go. Example: I went to Spicy Pickle for lunch yesterday with Kristy, Alex, Julia, and Michelle. As we were walking in, two very tall, athletic, jaw-droppingly hot guys came walking out wearing Texas Baseball shirts. Then it hit me... I could have just walked past the future Mr. Right and not even known it.
   
10. It's humid. The air-conditioned Bubble is a gift from God. And a Modern Marvel. We should be on the History Channel.
    
11. LHB had our annual Stadium Rehearsal last night. We had to be barefoot because Coach Brown didn't want us messing up the million dollar grass. Out of habit, I picked like two blades out, then realized that I'll probably find $350 added to my "What I Owe" page. The stadium is spectacular, though. These aren't my pictures because I was a n00b and didn't take my camera, but there are some pictures at the bottom of the post of the tunnel in the new North endzone and the beautiful addition of seats. It is SAWEEEEET.
    
12. Mack Brown came and talked to us. He was a really nice guy. Very down-to-earth.
    
13. ESPN is coming out next Thurs to film LHB in the Bubble (in full fringe attire) and will post us on their website for fans to vote for the favorite college band in the country. If we win, we get $25,000. And they will put our footage as a bonus feature on the DVD of the new Indiana Jones movie when it comes out. Not sure how exactly college band/football is related to that, but whatever. It's gonna be kind of nerve-racking... NATIONAL MEDIA there filming us. And I play trumpet and find myself to be at the front of the band most of the time, meaning it's quite possible that the cameras will be on or around me alot. That would not be the time to be faking some piece of music that is supposed to be memorized. I'll give you guys the link once it gets up and all.

Classes start tomorrow... The main reason I am here to begin with. It's kinda weird because I have been so consumed with all things LHB. Should be interesting.

Oh, and I love letters. Seriously. They make my heart go BOOM! Write me, yo!
210 Littlefield
2503 Whitis Ave.
Austin, TX 78705-9008

No excuses :)

The Tunnel.

Drumline. Can't see Hot Snare Boy. And I'm somewhere behind one of those tall trombone players.

See the orange railing? Fans can stand there and scream and yell with us as we get ready to go out. It's gonna be awesome.

This is Alex. In the background is Michelle. Alex's face pretty much tells how we all felt, haha.

Pregame block before Texas Fight. I'm on the other side of the goal posts. So is Hot Snare Boy.

This is that Taps thing I was talking about. We go all the way down and come all the way back. And we all get grossly sweaty. I don't care how much of an athlete you think you are... this is TIRING.


Mr. Mack Brown ladies and gentlemen, haha. He's like a flying pterodactyl.

The beautiful North Endzone.

It's huge. And it's the dang endzone.