Winter Weather

Today I wanted a 2-hour delay. Really really badly. I didn't get it. So far this winter, which has only been a few weeks, but the weather has been nuts so far. I invision a very snowy winter. I think there is going to be a lot of school alterations. I worry about musical, we might not get much done.

Touring Chamber Choir

Now that the madrigal feast is over, we are still keeping busy. We are now "touring" with our Chirstmas music (which happens to be very similar to our thanksgiving music). We have sung at a few things already including the concert and the senior citizens luncheon. This Saturday we will be singing at the Lebanon Country Club... they pay us!! and then the following Tuesday we will sing before school for the teachers. I believe that's all. Its fun, enough said!

Hunsicker, Masser, Madrigals

For the last few decades, the Northern Lebanon has had a Senior Choir as well as a choir that is smaller and harder to get into. While under the instruction of Max Hunsicker, this select choir was called the Northern Lites. They sang more challenging music than the concert choir did and were considered the better singers. Well he retired just 4 years ago, and, for the first year, the Northern Lites lived on. However, after that, the new instructor, Molly Masser, added a group referred to as the Madrigal Singers. The Northern Lites still sang the same types of music as before, but the Madrigal group sang just that; madrigals. These are older folk songs from the Renaissance period. During Mrs. Masser's third year of directing the high school, she decided to combine the two group and have one group called the Chamber Choir. This allowed to have the choir assigned as a class for school credit so that we could practice during the day instead of at 6:30 in the morning two days a week like we had been. I loved the change!
Another change that the chamber choir brought was that, since we were one group and had more time to practice, we performed more. Our director considers it "touring", but it is more commonly know (to the students) as getting out of school. We do a Madrigal feast around Thanksgiving time where we all get costumes and sing madrigal songs, as well as acting and performing skits, with many the occasional dance! Before our evening performance, however, we were able to travel to the four elementary schools in our district and sing a few songs for them simply for publicity. Some of the teachers actually came to the dinner theatre!

Auditions Stink!

Yesterday was singing auditions for the musical. These, unfortunately, did not go as well as the dancing ones. 47 people tried out. That's a lot. I think there were about 100 people there for the lead girl even though there were not that many total. I like to exaggerate; it makes me feel better. But I can say that I'm glad its over.
Today and tomorrow and possibly Thursday we will be having the reading auditions. These are key in deciding if someone gets a lead or not. Stage presence is important in a musical performance. I am predicting that there will be even more people at the audition today than there were yesterday. Which I guess is good for the overall benefit of the program, but maybe not for individuals personally!! haha. I hope it goes well. And quick. I don't want to be here until 6 pm. We'll see!!

Leadership event

One event in my life that had a significant effect on me took place one day at musical practice. I was nervous for my audition and was in a bad mood so I remember complaining about another girl. Shortly thereafter I heard the freshman next to me say something rude about the same girl and swear about her. I, being the upperclassmen that I was, explained to the girl that it was not good to say that and she should try to be more respectful. She went on to apologize and state that she only did it because I had and she swore because she thought I would think she was cool. I was discouraged, but while this scenario was unfortunate, it was a good eye-opener for me. I realized that since I am a Christian I represent Christ wherever I go. I want to live for him but that requires that I be a good example at all times. People will always look up to us and watch our actions, so God is teaching me that I need to always be honoring him in the things I do and say.

for some college thing

I am involved in many ministries including my church youth group, leadership team and servant team. I am the leader of the youth group worship team and love to help people find a place of worship with our maker and savior. I am also a junior high youth leader and find that this is a great way to connect with teens who look up to older teens so much and I also learn a lot. I am in my church choir and we sing at many public events and rescue missions etc. I am a member of our church praise team.

I became a Christian when I was 5 years old but certainly did not understand what it meant to die to myself and serve God. I attended church all my life and my father was and is the worship pastor at my church. When I got to middle school I saw much more of what the world has to offer and started making more of my own decisions. God taught me that the easy thing to do is rarely ever the right thing. Throughout high school I have been faced with many trials but God has blessed me with friends and rold models to get me through as well as blessing me for relying on him to get me through. I now recommit myself to him daily. I want to furter my relationship with Christ.

A skill I could work on

One leadership skill which I would like to develop is listening. I am not a shy person and I love to give guideance and pray with or for people, but I think I could work on listeing more. I love personal interaction an a key aspect in being a good leader means leading, but also knowing when to follow or simply take a step back. Listening requires more patience and compassion, which are also good things to be working on.

dance tryouts

today and yesterday we had dance tryouts for this year's musical. The musical is called Thoroughly Modern Millie. I am excited for it because there is a lot of dancing incorporated which is fun even though I'm not good at it. Musical is what I look forward to and remember most about previous years. I guess you could say its what makes me tick.
I hope auditions go well. I get nervous sometimes, although the dancing and reading ones are not nearly as bad as the singing auditions. brrr. it gives me chills.
My muscles might hurt after dancing because I am out of shape.

Friendship

Friendship is accepting someone just the way they are but loving them too much to leave them that way. I like that definition.

Elfing and Coldness (I know its not a word)

One of my current jobs is to be an elf. I get paid $8 an hour to stand along 22 with my best friend and dance like an elf. Although it is very cold, it is worth it. Our costumes consist of tights, tunics, waistbands, gloves, hats, bows for pig tails, and booties that go over our shoes, all in red and green of course. Its a good time!
Last Saturday was cold. And I was a total wuss about it. But yesterday... wow. So much worse. It was 19 degrees outside. I stood outside for seven hours in that weather and then went to the school to get ready to perform. I was numb. And wind burnt.
Typically our jobs are simply to stand along the highway and dance, do kartwheels, sing etc. but yesterday our boss was out of workers so Julia and I got to tag, bag and deliver trees. That was fun!!!

Madrigal Feast!

A Madrigal Feast is a dinner theatre that is set during the Renaissance period. Our school's Chamber Choir is going to be performing a madrigal feast tonight and tomorrow night at Jonestown Elementary School. We as a choir did the same thing last year in the sense that we performed a madrigal feast but it is also very different. We are doing many new songs and the script is completely different which means the skits are all different. Im excited for it, but I wish we could have sold more tickets. Im a wench. yay.

Life is Good

Life is good, eternal life is better

All around me smiling faces
Different people from different places
Time is short, don't wanna waste it
No ashamed so I'll just say it
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
All around me your creation
Brings me to my knees in adoration
Beauty here cannot compare to
What I see when I first see you
Life is good, eternal life is better

I don't know what to blog about. This blogging this is good and does keep me writing. But unfortunately it seems like a large obligation today and I'm just not in the mood. I've been praying a lot lately, and the reasons vary but I see that a contributing factor lately has been for my bad attitude. I lack motivation apparently. Its frustrating. But the fact that I get frustrated over not being motivated proves that I am slightly motivated.. interesting. Wow, suddenly I have something to blog about. Its funny the way that works. Is the word "aint" in the dictionary?
On the way to school today the sky was red. It was beautiful and made me happy.
Red sky at night, sailor's delight,
Red sly at morning, sailors to warning.
Since I drive to school in the moring, that means sailors to warning. Which means there is weather coming that wouldn't be good to sail in. I would guess that its snow =)

Break

This word is on my mind because today is our first day back from Thanksgiving break. I had an amazing 5 days off from school and was able to get caught up on some sleep and relax with family and friends. Unfortunately I did have to work Wednesday night at Candylane and then Saturday at my other job but it is so much fun that I barely consider it work!