Another weekend down.
This one was good. I worked pretty hard all week, and even did all the readings for deVries' class, AND practiced my trumpet.
My weekend started Thursday night when I went for a walk with Lizzie who I started getting to know on band tour. After our walk I went with her to Urness to hang out with some of her friends. We played Skip-bo. It was fun. It was also very very strange being in Urness. For nostalgia's sake I went down to the first floor and walked the hallway towards 103. SO MANY FLASHBACKS! Then I went down the stairs that I knew so well... I can't believe that was only a year ago.
Then on Friday I had a hard time getting out of bed, but I went to class, and right afterward I went to Uptown to visit Codey. Our plan was to go to a special coffee shop to get Kopi Luwak, which is a drink made from coffee beans that have traveled through the digestive track of a monkey.
Monkey poop coffee.
That didn't end up happening though because Visser didn't get there until after 6, and I was supposed to leave at 6 to make it to Jenny's birthday party. We watched 2 episodes of Ugly Betty, some bad Cartoon Network show, and then started watching "Cannibles the Musical." When Visser arrived, we dyed Codey's hair, and I tried to dye a piece of mine, but it didn't really work.
Then I got back to Augsburg and went to Jenny's room. The cake was already finished, and since Ben is from Cedar Falls, we watched the HUGE, Important Basketball game between Cedar Falls and Michigan State. Michigan won, but it was an intense game, and we were all cheering by the end. When the game finished, everyone went to the Rave at the Film studio, and I went back to my room.
Saturday was Jenny's actual birthday, so after eating brunch, Jenny, Ben, Caleb and I went to North East Minneapolis to explore. It is really cool there. We went to the Holy Land, and a couple thrift stores, and then for lunch we went to a place called Thai Noodle, where we ate delicious rice, and talked with our awesome waitress.
After lunch we went to Target and a party store, and then it was nap time. My two hour nap turned into a three and a half hour nap... but I eventually made it to Jenny's Birthday party. We played cards, listened to music, and went for a walk. In the end we all watched Repo the Genetic Opera and fell asleep. Good night!
Today was also fun filled. I went with Colin and Magnus to the Minneapolis Institute of Art because Colin had to do a worksheet for class. This time we got to spend a lot more time on the third floor, and I enjoyed it. My favorites were the Charles M. Russell paintings and his brass sculpture. Maybe that has to do with my current American West kick. I also found "Still Life With Pheasant and Plovers" By Monet, and spent some good time staring at Van Gogh's Olive Trees.
Yum.
As soon as I got back from that trip, I connected with Anna and we went for a walk down Franklin, and back around down by the river. We played on a play ground and talked about all kinds of things.
Exhausted from the walk, I took a nap until Erica came home, and then I came to the Honor's suite to do homework. Now I am going to bed.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Big Sky, Big Adventure!!!
I don't want to just blog when BIG things happen.
Yesterday Alan reprimanded my lax blogging habits, and today I got an email from Ali warning us of the shame we will face.
Spring Break was AWESOME.
The band went to Montana and back. A senior Oboe player, Kirsten, is from Montana, so we went to her home town. The trip followed basic patterns, wake up too early, get on a bus, play a concert or two or three, get on a bus, arrive at hotel, revel, go to sleep too late, repeat.
The first night I was pouting for lack of a good travel buddy, so I embarked on my own to explore Bismarck, North Dakota. When I had my fill, I started walking back, and I saw a fellow trumpet player who was also wandering alone, so I joined him and we explored even more!
When the band went to Romania last spring, my travel buddy and I would take off exploring even if we only had 10 minutes to call time. My buddy not being as enthusiastic this time through, I was left alone. Marrta also wasn't very enthusiastic. I had to take things into my own hands.
One of my biggest anxieties this year has been self confidence, and being able to hang out with the "cool kids." I don't need cool kids. I am a cool kid.
Red Lodge, one of the last towns we stopped at, was my favorite. We got there early in the afternoon, and had the rest of the day to ourselves! There were mountains, rivers, forests and sunshine. As soon as we got there, I packed my back pack with a sketchbook, camera, and journal, and some other things in case I needed them, and set out. On my way, I saw Steve. He asked what I was up to, and he came with.
We adventured until we found other people, joined for a while, and then embarked with fake Steve. We met a Poodle, and then we climbed a ridge to the North of town, where we found a van. We also found a play ground. When I got back, I was tired and ready for rest, but another group was heading out for a walk, and I joined them too! And when THAT group got back, another one went for a hike up the other ridge, and I joined. This time it was me, Erika, Fake Steve, Reed and Marty, and we climbed up the steepest way. There is still dirt in my shoes and scrapes on my knees.
At the top we saw a herd of 16 deer and an awesome springer-like dog named Alice introduced herself. Alice showed us the way down the ridge, and followed us part of the way back to the hotel until she found some of her friends.
By then it was dark, but that meant time to go out to see the stars! So another group got together and found a back road to lay on and see what stars look like in Big Sky Country. Very satisfying.
In the end, what I learned is that I don't always have to be the one asking if I can come along. In fact, it's almost more fun to BE asked.
Yay!
Every night on tour was a blast, and the very last I found a statue of a Rabbit with a saddle on it, which has always been a dream of mine.
Now I am back at Augsburg with a new take on life. I mean that. When I see band people who I might have just nodded to before, or casually taken out my cell phone, I say hello, I shake hands, I talk, I hug! I LOVE BAND.
It's not cool to love band, but I don't care.
I am feeling good about myself, and I am ready for the LAST month of Sophomore year. I can't believe it's here already.
Yesterday Alan reprimanded my lax blogging habits, and today I got an email from Ali warning us of the shame we will face.
Spring Break was AWESOME.
The band went to Montana and back. A senior Oboe player, Kirsten, is from Montana, so we went to her home town. The trip followed basic patterns, wake up too early, get on a bus, play a concert or two or three, get on a bus, arrive at hotel, revel, go to sleep too late, repeat.
The first night I was pouting for lack of a good travel buddy, so I embarked on my own to explore Bismarck, North Dakota. When I had my fill, I started walking back, and I saw a fellow trumpet player who was also wandering alone, so I joined him and we explored even more!
When the band went to Romania last spring, my travel buddy and I would take off exploring even if we only had 10 minutes to call time. My buddy not being as enthusiastic this time through, I was left alone. Marrta also wasn't very enthusiastic. I had to take things into my own hands.
One of my biggest anxieties this year has been self confidence, and being able to hang out with the "cool kids." I don't need cool kids. I am a cool kid.
Red Lodge, one of the last towns we stopped at, was my favorite. We got there early in the afternoon, and had the rest of the day to ourselves! There were mountains, rivers, forests and sunshine. As soon as we got there, I packed my back pack with a sketchbook, camera, and journal, and some other things in case I needed them, and set out. On my way, I saw Steve. He asked what I was up to, and he came with.
We adventured until we found other people, joined for a while, and then embarked with fake Steve. We met a Poodle, and then we climbed a ridge to the North of town, where we found a van. We also found a play ground. When I got back, I was tired and ready for rest, but another group was heading out for a walk, and I joined them too! And when THAT group got back, another one went for a hike up the other ridge, and I joined. This time it was me, Erika, Fake Steve, Reed and Marty, and we climbed up the steepest way. There is still dirt in my shoes and scrapes on my knees.
At the top we saw a herd of 16 deer and an awesome springer-like dog named Alice introduced herself. Alice showed us the way down the ridge, and followed us part of the way back to the hotel until she found some of her friends.
By then it was dark, but that meant time to go out to see the stars! So another group got together and found a back road to lay on and see what stars look like in Big Sky Country. Very satisfying.
In the end, what I learned is that I don't always have to be the one asking if I can come along. In fact, it's almost more fun to BE asked.
Yay!
Every night on tour was a blast, and the very last I found a statue of a Rabbit with a saddle on it, which has always been a dream of mine.
Now I am back at Augsburg with a new take on life. I mean that. When I see band people who I might have just nodded to before, or casually taken out my cell phone, I say hello, I shake hands, I talk, I hug! I LOVE BAND.
It's not cool to love band, but I don't care.
I am feeling good about myself, and I am ready for the LAST month of Sophomore year. I can't believe it's here already.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
My weekend in Michigan
I am regaining my foot hold at Augsburg after a long, and life changing weekend.
At 9:00am Last wednesday, as I walked to the CCHP to discuss my obsessive compulsive tendencies, I got a text message from my Aunt Faye saying that Grandma was gone to glory at 8:20 that morning. I knew that this was coming, so it did not come as a shock, but it was still sad. THat's what I talked about with my counselor, and then I packed my bag. I skipped everything but band that day. At first I was going to go home to Ogilvie while plans were made, but since the plane was going to leave early Thursday morning, I just hung out here. I had my back pack packed for adventure, and I could have gone anywhere, just like Visser and I talked about, but instead I treated myself to a Athena pizza at Luce a "small" brownie sundae and two cherry cokes.
Thursday at 6:00am, my mom and my dad picked me up at Augsburg, and we drove to the airport. I've done lots of flying in the last couple years, but not with my dad, so it was really great to share that experience with him. The flight went smoothly, and arrived safely in Michigan later that morning.
At that point, the Cramtons minus Nathan were already there, and the next to come in was Uncle Rob. He lost his cell phone and ended up renting a car. John and I drove to the Airport and bonded over Country music and college, and picked up a very cold Nathan. I volunteered to give Martin my cell phone number so I would be the contact when he landed. When he came, Rob, Nathan and I went to get him.
I was terrified of Martin. The last time I saw him was when I was 5, and since then, I had only seen very solemn pictures.
The next day was the funeral. We had to be there at 11 for the viewing, and the service itself wasn't until 7. Luckily, there was an Airport run in between to pick up Rita. Rita is my 13 year older sister. I love her.
From there, it was a great day of hanging out with the whole family. Tim and Nancy drove in, and it was good to see them. Not to mention all of the other friends that showed up.
Claire and I are really close, and usually when I visit I hang out with her, but she and John left on a mission trip Saturday morning, and that left me with Nathan (23), Martin (31) and Rita (32). We became the cool cousins. I can't describe all the fun that we had, but it was amazing. Last summer I wrote Nathan a couple letters, and it was strange to see him in real life, but we were able to connect. Martin is a witty fellow and it was fun to hang out with him. My brain is still running in Martin mode, I like it.
AHHH!
And then we left....
Now I am back, and trying to figure out relationships, and attitudes. ... life plans... whatever. I am worrying too much. Yesterday wasn't fun. My only class in the day time was French, and the teacher was a JERK. Even though I emailed him my circumstances, and he replied, when I asked if there was an exam, he shot back, "What do you think?" Yes? "Yes there is!" I was gone the last three days, leave me alone. "Why were you gone the last three days?" I emailed you. "What did it say?"
I wish I had the ovaries to stand up and stick it to him, but instead I muttered quietly and left. Should I not come back? "NO, don't come back." I wish that meant forever.
I am going to go to lunch now, but it's going to be crowded and I am not going to like it.
At 9:00am Last wednesday, as I walked to the CCHP to discuss my obsessive compulsive tendencies, I got a text message from my Aunt Faye saying that Grandma was gone to glory at 8:20 that morning. I knew that this was coming, so it did not come as a shock, but it was still sad. THat's what I talked about with my counselor, and then I packed my bag. I skipped everything but band that day. At first I was going to go home to Ogilvie while plans were made, but since the plane was going to leave early Thursday morning, I just hung out here. I had my back pack packed for adventure, and I could have gone anywhere, just like Visser and I talked about, but instead I treated myself to a Athena pizza at Luce a "small" brownie sundae and two cherry cokes.
Thursday at 6:00am, my mom and my dad picked me up at Augsburg, and we drove to the airport. I've done lots of flying in the last couple years, but not with my dad, so it was really great to share that experience with him. The flight went smoothly, and arrived safely in Michigan later that morning.
At that point, the Cramtons minus Nathan were already there, and the next to come in was Uncle Rob. He lost his cell phone and ended up renting a car. John and I drove to the Airport and bonded over Country music and college, and picked up a very cold Nathan. I volunteered to give Martin my cell phone number so I would be the contact when he landed. When he came, Rob, Nathan and I went to get him.
I was terrified of Martin. The last time I saw him was when I was 5, and since then, I had only seen very solemn pictures.
The next day was the funeral. We had to be there at 11 for the viewing, and the service itself wasn't until 7. Luckily, there was an Airport run in between to pick up Rita. Rita is my 13 year older sister. I love her.
From there, it was a great day of hanging out with the whole family. Tim and Nancy drove in, and it was good to see them. Not to mention all of the other friends that showed up.
Claire and I are really close, and usually when I visit I hang out with her, but she and John left on a mission trip Saturday morning, and that left me with Nathan (23), Martin (31) and Rita (32). We became the cool cousins. I can't describe all the fun that we had, but it was amazing. Last summer I wrote Nathan a couple letters, and it was strange to see him in real life, but we were able to connect. Martin is a witty fellow and it was fun to hang out with him. My brain is still running in Martin mode, I like it.
AHHH!
And then we left....
Now I am back, and trying to figure out relationships, and attitudes. ... life plans... whatever. I am worrying too much. Yesterday wasn't fun. My only class in the day time was French, and the teacher was a JERK. Even though I emailed him my circumstances, and he replied, when I asked if there was an exam, he shot back, "What do you think?" Yes? "Yes there is!" I was gone the last three days, leave me alone. "Why were you gone the last three days?" I emailed you. "What did it say?"
I wish I had the ovaries to stand up and stick it to him, but instead I muttered quietly and left. Should I not come back? "NO, don't come back." I wish that meant forever.
I am going to go to lunch now, but it's going to be crowded and I am not going to like it.
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