Happy 93rd Birthday To My Great Grandpa!!!

Happy Birthday to my great grandpa!  Today he turned 93 years old and he's still going strong.  :-)  He is such a great guy!  I always love listening to his stories every time I go visit him and my great grandma... even if they are the same stories every time.  He has been such an inspiration to me too.  He has always kept busy  with his various hobbies... model trains, painting, gardening (he has the most amazing garden), and many other things.  I think that is one reason he has lived so long.  I love you Grandpa Roach!  I hope you have had a great birthday, and have many more great birthdays in the future.  :-)

This is my great grandpa when he was younger!  :-)

To A Better Semester!

Hey everyone, it's been a while... like since the beginning of my first semester at CU.  How'd it go?... well, lets just say I grew a lot and learned way more than just music.  But, I can say that all the trials and hardships that I went through this semester made me a better person, and showed me just how strong I am and it made me even stronger than I was before.

There were some good things from last semester too.  I was able to prove to my harp teacher and orchestra conductor that I did have the skill level to perform one of the orchestra pieces... Tzigane by Ravel (it has one of the hardest harp cadenzas ever written).  I was able to make good friends with one person... Nicchi.  We had a lot of fun last semester cooking, studying, and our twice a week lunch before our history class.  She really helped me through my semester.  I was also able to pass all of my piano proficiency in one semester!  :-)  Oh, and I started learning French (J'apprend le francais.  Je joue le harp.  J'aime la musique.).  :-D

But enough about last year, I am about to start my second semester at CU and I am determined to make it a better semester and a better year.  I am already starting out the semester better because I found a new roommate... (the last place/roommates were pretty horrible).  The place is in a much better area of the city, and I'll have my own room... which I recommend for anyone in college, it can make all the difference in your college experience.  :-P  Oh, an my new roommate is awesome!  She is super sweet and we hit it off really well.  Our other two roommates are my roommates two guinea pigs, Fabio and Luigi.  :-)  I think that we are going to have a lot of fun this semester but it might get a bit confusing at times considering how close our names are... mine being Lauren and her's being Laura.  LOL

I have a few goals for this semester and for the rest of my time at CU.  I am determined to be a better, more dedicated student and musician and to blow my teachers away.  I have also told myself that I am done with all the drama that goes on at school... I am there to learn and to grow and all the drama just inhibits that.  I am also going to get along with and trust my teachers advice more.  :-)

My biggest goal is to try and remain stress free as I have about 11 classes this semester... but only about 15-16 units.  It's still very demanding.  But, I am super excited because I have three classes besides my music classes that I can meet people outside of the music department.  Those classes are French 2, Cross Training/Flexibility, and Ultimate Frisbee.  :-)

On a non school note... I'd like you to meet my families newest furry family member.  Her name is Penelope. She's eight weeks old and only weighs two and a half pounds.

And So It Begins...

Today I start a new chapter of my life... well I guess it kind of started a few days ago but let me start at the beginning.  After attending community college for three years and graduating with two associate degrees, I decided it was time to transfer to a University.  I had originally applied and was accepted at a state university and I was super excited because they had a great music program (for those of you who don't know I am a harpist and I'm majoring in music with an emphasis in performance and composition).  Then, I was talking to the harp professor that works at that state school (she also works at three other schools in the area).  I had told her that I was accepted.  She asked if I received any scholarships and I didn't.  So, she suggested that I apply at one of the other schools she teaches at.  Well, this said school is a private school so that mean tons of money to go there.  I told her I wouldn't be able to afford it but she said that they have lots of opportunities for scholarships.  So I applied... the night before the deadline for transfer application.  Talk about last minute.  After that I scheduled an audition for the conservatory of music... yeah they actually have a conservatory, not just a music department but a music conservatory.  :-)  I had my audition and they said they wanted me and that they would see what they could do to make it so I could go there.  Wow!  Then comes the day when the "envelope" comes in the mail telling me if I was accepted or not.  I WAS!!!! And, not only that but I had received an academic scholarship!  Plus, I received a grant from the school too!  :-)  A few weeks later, I get a call from the conservatory telling me that I received a scholarship for music too!  YAY!  But, that's not the best part... I was on campus one day submitting paperwork or some such and I passed but my orchestra conductors office.  They happened to be finalizing the budget for the year... they had some money left over and were trying to figure out where to put it.  My orchestra conductor said "I have a harpist out in the hall, lets just give it to her".  How awesome it that!  :-)  So, now I am going to a private University!!!  :-)  I still can't believe it.

This last week I had orientation.  I have been super nervous because it's a new school, new people, and a new city.  But, orientation went great and I met lots of people.  We had so much fun!  :-)  So, today I start my first day of classes at my new school!  So weird, exciting, nerve wracking,  amazing... like everything at once.  I know it's going to go great but I'm still nervous because I am starting a new chapter in my life.  And I mean really new... I'm not living with my parents anymore, I'm in a new city, and a new school.  Talk about huge new chapter!  But this year is going to be amazing!  I can't wait to see all that's in store!  :-)

Mmm... Chocolate!

A few months ago, I made a German chocolate cake from scratch... yeah, not from a box!  :-)  It was the first time I had made a cake from scratch... I usually use the box mixes.  I was kind of nervous about it, but it turned out great!  It was nice and fluffy, not too sweet, and very chocolaty!  I even made the glaze on top from scratch!  It tasted amazing! :-)

Hey, She Actually Posted!

Hello Everyone!  I know I haven't blogged in a while, but these last couple of months have been crazy!  But through all the crazy, some great things have happened!  I am graduating this semester and I found out that I will be receiving two associates degrees!  One in music and the other in humanities.  Yay!  :-)  Then, this last Friday, I put my deposit in for the university that I am transferring to!  I am so excited, it is such a great school and fits me perfectly!  :-)  Here's another cool thing that happened just last week.... Have you ever heard of the t.v. show Motion?  Basically, they travel to different parts of the United States and go hiking, biking, kayaking, etc.  It is a really neat show.  Sometimes they take guest hikers.  I wrote to them to let them know that I would really like to be a guest hiker (this was about a month ago).  Last week, I received a call from them!  I wasn't able to make it to the show they are doing this month, but they said that they would keep me in mind for their future shows.  :-)  This is my last month of school before summer break... which I can't wait for... so I probably won't be posting much until after finals.  But for now, I leave you with this picture I took in Zion National Park last November.  :-)

Feline Friday

My kitty, Duchess Du Bois!  Isn't she adorable?

"What are you doing down there?"

"Bird!"

"I see you!"

"Hi!"

Dad's Lunch

This weekend, my dad made a really yummy lunch!  It was black beans, corn salsa from Trader Joes, hot and sweet cherry peppers from Trader Joes, little heirloom tomatoes, green onion, a little bit of the juice from the cherry peppers, a little oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  We put it in a tortilla and wrapped it up like a burrito.  It was sooo good!