From the Heart

Day 15--(Day 136): I Love Singing

2012-02-15T20:51:00.000-08:00

Singing is amazing and it is my refuge. Today I got to sing at church and it was super fun! :)

Day 14--(Day 135): I Love LOVE!!!

2012-02-14T19:02:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!! Valentine's day is my favorite holiday because it's the one day everyone actually shows their love for others. :)

Love is all around.

Day 13--(Day 134): I Love Abby!

2012-02-13T19:28:00.000-08:00

This is Abby. She's an awesome young lady (though I don't understand the snake). She started her very own blog over the weekend. Check it out: http://abigailpersoon.blogspot.com/

Day 12--(Day 134): I Love Eric Whitacre and Adele

2012-02-12T21:23:00.000-08:00

I am so happy that two of my favorite artists won Grammy Awards tonight. Both Eric Whitacre and Adele received the award. :) Yay!!

Day 11--(Day 133): I love music

2012-02-12T05:47:00.001-08:00

I really love music. It is my life. Today I spent a lot of time importing CDs into my iTunes. It's a long and tedious process, but it will be worth it. :)

Day 10--(Day 132) I love Chris

2012-02-10T20:35:00.000-08:00

Today was a very, very difficult day.

Today is the anniversary of my friend Chris's death. The day actually started fine. I was a little more emotional than usual, but nothing too out of the ordinary. I even went and had coffee with a friend and we didn't even talk about Chris because I wasn't really feeling sad at that moment and didn't feel any particular need to bring it up.

But, when I got home I started feeling sick. Not because I'm actually sick or anything. I just felt like I was going to puke and I felt really dizzy. It was awful. I felt overwhelmed with emotion and tried calling a couple friends, looking for support. Unfortunately, no one answered. Feeling a little claustrophobic, I decided it might be best to get out of the house and drive somewhere. I followed my gut feeling to drive to church. I didn't go inside (didn't really want to see anyone), but I just sat in my car and to my relief, one of my friends returned my call. I talked to her for a little while and that made me feel a lot better. After that, I drove home. Now, I'm just fine.

I was really startled by this sudden mini-panic attack. I haven't had one since last April, so I was a little surprised. But, everything is okay now.

So, let me tell you a little about Chris. She was one of the most remarkable people I have ever been blessed to know. She basically taught me how to sing. I miss her so, so, so much.

At her funeral 3 years ago, we sang this song. Chris was very generous with her love and really made everyone feel welcome in her life and in her heart.

Day 9--(Day 131): I love to help my friends

2012-02-09T19:15:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm feeling like a great person! I really feel like I've done things today to help people. I'll tell you about one of them. I had rehearsal for the middle school play after school today until 4:15. When rehearsal ended, I was chatting with the director and she couldn't find her keys. We looked all over the theatre and just couldn't find them. She told me I could go, but I didn't want to leave her there without knowing that she had a way to get home and to go pick up her kids. So, I stayed and we kept searching. We looked at the middle school and the high school and still couldn't find them. She was, of course, in a panic. I tried to stay calm and rational, but I was worried we wouldn't be able to find them. We walked down to the high school main office (where she hadn't even been near) and there they were sitting on the desk. Whew. I was so relieved and so was she.

I left feeling really great about helping her find them. It's amazing how great kindness can make a person feel. :)

Day 8--(Day 130): I Love Ellen

2012-02-08T20:03:00.000-08:00

Ellen Degeneres is one of my favorite people. She's hilarious and she inspires me. She's not just a celebrity, she's a real person.

Also, she's gay. Some people think it's a big deal...like it makes her a bad person. SO NOT TRUE.

Some people don't like that she's the new spokesperson for JCPenney, but she's going to be a great spokesperson!

Day 7--(Day 129): I Love Politics!

2012-02-07T20:25:00.000-08:00

I love politics and getting my opinion out and hearing other people's ideas. :) Tonight was the Minnesota caucus. It was super fun and awesome!

Day 6--(Day 128): I love emotions

2012-02-06T21:12:00.000-08:00

One of the greatest parts of being human is the range of emotions I get to experience. Tonight I am appreciating these emotions even though I am a bit overwhelmed by them.

This week is really difficult for me because two people I was close to died this week. It's the most difficult time of the year for me. As I wrote two days ago, one of them was my friend Lorna.

I am missing her a lot today and thinking about the good times we shared. I am truly glad that she has moved on to a better place--she really did suffer through the last bit of her life. However, my selfish side wishes she were here. I want to be able to spend more time with her. She was a truly great lady.

I am truly blessed to be able to feel emotions very deeply, but it's also a curse sometimes. My heartaches are sometimes great. But, without sadness, there would be no happiness.

Day 5--(Day 127): I love travel

2012-02-05T21:04:00.000-08:00

I actually love traveling. However, I am exhausted. I flew all by myself for the first time today.

Day 4--(Day 126): I Love...So Many Things.

2012-02-04T19:30:00.000-08:00

I've been anticipating this day for a long time---for a few reasons.

1. Today was my first college audition. It went well, I think. :)

2. My mom and I went to see Sister Act on Broadway today. Super fun and cute show! Features some great music.

3. Today is the anniversary of my "grandma" Lorna's death. I watched Lorna breathe her last earthly breath. I actually witnessed her death. It was a blessing and a traumatizing experience. I love that I was able to share that moment with her and her family. That moment was the closest I have ever felt to anyone in my life and that made it even more difficult to let go. It was beautiful.

The traumatic part came after it happened. I don't talk about this part or write about it often because it is hard to discuss and difficult to verbalize. After this happened, I was in shock. I was numb. I didn't cry for like a week. I was so distraught and I didn't know how to handle it. I discussed it with many people, but I never really let out my feelings. One week later, I was sitting in the lobby of my school's theatre after school. I was all alone and I suddenly started hyperventilating and sobbing uncontrollably. I tried to take a few deep breaths and calm myself down, but I just couldn't regain control. After a minute of this, I stood up and walked to the bathroom, hoping that the movement would calm me down. It did and after that I was fine. Terrified, yes; but fine. Nothing like that had ever happened to me before, so I knew it must be connected to Lorna's death. I called a close friend and she calmed me down. About a month later, a similar thing happened. I was driving to a school near the hospice center where Lorna died and as I was taking the exit of the freeway (the same one that I had used the day Lorna died), I again started hyperventilating. It wasn't as bad this time, so I didn't feel the need to pull over. I got close to my destination, but I couldn't find the building or anywhere to park and the situation became very stressful. I began to cry. I tried to breathe and I was able to calm myself down. Once I did figure out where I was supposed to be, I sat in my car for a few minutes recovering. And then I was fine again.

I haven't had any other panic attacks since then, but the grief does come at weird times. But, that's pretty normal for me based on my other experiences with loss. And I still have dreams about Lorna a lot, but they aren't scary or bad, they're just memories of times I shared with her. Everything is ok now.

What I love about being there for Lorna's death is the strong connection I now have with her and her family. I've become very close with her husband Wendell and two of her granddaughters, Kirstin and Angela. I feel like they've really extended a lot of love to me and welcomed me into their hearts--just as Lorna did for me and so many others. And, as much as I love sharing my feelings about witnessing Lorna's death, no one can understand it as well as they do. Every week (just about) I see Wendell and always give him a big hug. We chat briefly about whatever is going on, but we don't say much and we don't really need to. Lorna's passing has created a special bond amongst all of us.

Lorna was a special lady. She was passionate about helping people and had room in her heart for everybody. She was also stubborn and opinionated---but, only because she cared so much. She was strong in her faith (something that I am still trying to learn from her) and showed courage in all she did.

As Lorna would say, "take your left hand and put it on your right shoulder and your right hand on your left shoulder and squeeze!-that's a hug from grandma!"

She'll always be with us.

Requiem.

Day 3--(Day 125): I love NYC!

2012-02-03T20:25:00.001-08:00

I adore NYC! It is my home. :) Today we visited the 9/11 memorial. It was so cool.

Day 2--(Day 124): I love Art

2012-02-02T18:50:00.000-08:00

New York City is my favorite place in the world. There is SO much to do! Today, we walked to the Museum of Modern Art and it was awesome! I got to see some really awesome stuff! I also learned that you're allowed to take pictures in the museum.

Day 1--(Day 123): Things I love

2012-02-01T21:55:00.000-08:00

February is going to be all about things I love!! Today: I love music. Music is Life, Life is Music.

Day 31--(Day 122): Sickkkkk.....:(

2012-01-31T20:39:00.000-08:00

I think I'm getting sick. :( So, in trying to ward off the impending cold, I'm going to go to bed. I will summarize January tomorrow.

New theme starts tomorrow!! Here's a hint:

Presidential fun fact: Did you know that Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States, was a tailor before he was President?

Day 30--(Day 121): Gotta Love the 'Bou

2012-01-30T20:45:00.000-08:00

I love Caribou...so much. Yummmmmmyyyyy.

Tonight, I stopped by and ran into my friend Becky! So fun to see her!!!

Presidential Funfact!!! FOR TWO YEARS the nation was run by a president and a vice president who were not elected by the people. After Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigned in 1973, President Nixon appointed Gerald Ford as vice president. Nixon resigned the following year, which left Ford as president, and Ford's appointed vice president, Nelson Rockefeller, as second in line.

Day 29--(Day 120): Missing It All

2012-01-29T19:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I finished up my final dinner theatre performance at my church. It's always bittersweet at the end of any show. It's nice to have the free time again, but it's hard being away from the people you've grown to know and love. I came into this particular theatre family last January and have loved being involved. Since we always have a shortage on women, I get to be an adult! Last time, I got to be married and throw a cup of water in my husband's face. This time, I got to be a trophy wife. I got to be kinda mean and rude, but then nice at the end.

This show came at a really stressful and challenging part of my life. I'm auditioning for colleges and really just super stressed. It's also approaching one year since my friend Lorna passed away as well as the anniversary of my friend Chris's death. If you've read my blog before, you know that I had a really traumatic experience regarding Lorna's death. I was actually holding her hand when she died. I am glad that I had the experience because it was very powerful, but it was also extremely traumatizing, emotionally. I think about it often.

In this particular play, I played a character who acts really terribly toward her family because she is grief-stricken (her grandmother-in-law has recently died) and doesn't know how to express her grief in a constructive way. Then, at the end, the truth comes out and she shows her true emotions to her family. I had to deliver a very emotional monologue about my character's feelings...which are parallel to the emotions I feel about Lorna. Immediately following my monologue, my grandfather-in-law talks about his wife. He talks about holding her hand when she died and this is always a difficult moment in the play for me because of my experience with Lorna's death.

Throughout the entire process, I've been debating whether or not I should tell a few people in the cast why I always got super emotional. I am happy to share the story of Lorna's death with just about anyone, but it's not the easiest topic to bring up. Last night (the final night), I finally found myself in a place where I could tell the guy playing my husband the story. I just grabbed him when we were offstage and we sat for like a half hour talking about it. It really helped me to just get it out in the open. He was really supportive and understanding and even shared some of his own experiences. And when we reached that final scene, my performance was better than it had ever been. It was more real than ever before because I had just been thinking about Lorna. I'm glad I could do that in memory of her.

And, as much as I truly loved exposing my emotions each night and really playing into the story, it was EXHAUSTING. So, I'm glad it's done. But, I'll miss the cast and the opportunity to share my emotions onstage every night.

Presidential fun fact: Did you know that George Washington's teeth were made from elephant and walrus tusks??

Day 28--(Day 119): Performance!

2012-01-28T22:44:00.000-08:00

Today was our second and final performance of the dinner theatre at my church. It was such a fun show. One of the things I loved about it was the emotional connection to my character. :)

More tomorrow...

Presidential fun fact: PRESIDENTS WHO would be considered "Washington outsiders" (i.e., the 18 presidents who never served in Congress) are: Washington, J. Adams, Jefferson, Taylor, Grant, Arthur, Cleveland, T. Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson, Coolidge, Hoover, F. Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and G. W. Bush.

Day 27--(Day 118): Quote of the Day

2012-01-27T21:58:00.000-08:00

A new favorite quote: "Your Success is Not My Failure."

This applies to many things, but for me it applies to theatre. Just because someone else gets a part you wanted, doesn't mean you can't be happy for them. :)

Presidential fun fact: THE MOST COMMON religious affiliation among presidents has been Episcopalian, followed by Presbyterian.

Day 26--(Day 117): Emotional Day

2012-01-26T21:33:00.000-08:00

Today was a very emotional day. We had our last rehearsal for the dinner theatre at church and I pretty much broke down onstage. Near the end of the show, I deliver an emotional monologue about the death of my grandma-in-law whom I was very close to. Afterwards, my grandpa-in-law in the show talks about her death and holding her hand as she died.

When we get to that speech, I break down. I can't help but to think of Lorna, who was like a grandma to me, who passed away last year. I was actually holding her hand as she died. I miss her so much.

For me, the play is about her and I can't help but be super emotional about it.

Presidential fun fact: LINCOLN, JEFFERSON, F. Roosevelt, Washington, Kennedy, and Eisenhower are portrayed on U.S. coins.

Day 25--(Day 116): Congresswoman Gabby Giffords

2012-01-25T20:15:00.000-08:00

Today was a bittersweet day in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords resigned from her position one year after being shot in Arizona while conducting a meet and greet with constituents. The Congresswoman has been making a successful recovery and she resigned in order to focus more on that recovery.

I hadn't ever heard of Giffords's before the attack last January. I remember hearing about the shooting and praying for her recovery. And now she has come back to the forefront of my mind. I watched her resignation ceremony on C-SPAN this afternoon and I cried. I was incredibly moved by her resignation letter which was read by fellow Congresswoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida. You can see the video here. She appears to be so genuinely kind and caring. I admire her courage and strength.

And here is Gabby's initial announcement of her resignation.

Many prayers to Gabby and her family.

Presidential fun fact today: Presidents Adams, Jefferson, and Monroe all died on the 4th of July; Coolidge was born on that day.

Presidential fun fact yesterday: (I forgot to post this yesterday) the constitution states in Article II, Section 3 that the president will give a state of the union address.

Day 24--(Day 115): Scrapbooking

2012-01-24T21:40:00.000-08:00

This week is stressing me out. It's less than two weeks until my first college auditions. I'm unbelievably nervous and stressed out. One of my main stress relievers is scrapbooking. Here's a picture of my current project:

Day 23--(Day 114): SMASH!

2012-01-23T19:58:00.000-08:00

SMASH is probably the best show ever. It's amazing. It's like Glee, but eons better. :) And it's actually pretty realistic.

Google it and check it out the preview. :)

Day 22--(Day 113): Missing Summer

2012-01-22T20:34:00.000-08:00

It's really cold here. I hate winter time so much. It's just ridiculous. But, it's nice to think about summer. I miss summer. Particularly, I miss last summer. It was just about perfect since I was able to perform in my all-time favorite show, the Sound of Music. :)

Here's a picture of me and Lydia during the Sound of Music. :)

Presidential fun fact: THE MOST COMMON religious affiliation among presidents has been Episcopalian, followed by Presbyterian.

Day 21--(Day 102): I forgot

2012-01-21T21:46:00.000-08:00

I forgot to include a presidential fun fact yesterday! :(

So, here is one for today and one for yesterday!

BARACK OBAMA is our 44th president, but there actually have only been 43 presidents: Cleveland was elected for two nonconsecutive terms and is counted twice, as our 22nd and 24th president.

EIGHT PRESIDENTS never attended college: Washington, Jackson, Van Buren, Taylor, Fillmore, Lincoln, A. Johnson, and Cleveland. The college that has the most presidents as alumni (seven in total) is Harvard: J. Adams, J. Q. Adams, T. Roosevelt, F. Roosevelt, Rutherford B. Hayes, J. F. Kennedy, and George W. Bush.

Also, I'd like to give a shout out to my friend, Jessica who got cast in a show this week! So happy for her!!! She is pictured above. :)

Day 20--(Day 111): Headshot

2012-01-20T21:10:00.000-08:00

One of the important part of auditions is the actor's headshot. Here's my new one!

Day 19--(Day 110): Finals

2012-01-19T22:58:00.001-08:00

Due the stress of final tests this week, I'm simply going to post this picture! I miss my fiddler family! :(

Day 18--(Day 109): Auditions are fun!

2012-01-18T20:17:00.000-08:00

I had the greatest audition tonight! It wasn't because I performed perfectly; it was because I went into the audition totally relaxed and not worried (as a usually am) about getting cast in the show. It was great. I literally went in and sang the very best I could and then danced my feet off. It was a blast. There are a ton of talented people auditioning and knowing that my chances of getting cast are very slim going into the process was very healthy. I'm glad that I just went and did my best and had a good time. :) No matter what comes out of this, I will be happy. Truly.

This is me when I go to most auditions:

And this is me at this audition:

Yay!

Day 17--(Day 108): Busy day

2012-01-17T16:51:00.000-08:00

Today was very busy. I had school, which included a math test and a big music presentation. Then I had rehearsal for the middle school play and then a voice lesson. It was good but busy.

I received this picture in an email today and wanted to share it. Remember my friend and mentor Lorna, who passed away last February? Well, this is a picture of me and her husband. We've become very close since Lorna's death. I am lucky enough to get to see him pretty much every week. I worry about him being alone; he and Lorna were together for SO long. But, most of the time he is in good spirits. :)

Day 16--(Day 107): Ribbon Making

2012-01-16T22:27:00.000-08:00

Today, I didn't have school and I got together with my friend Andie and we created these pink ribbons that we will sell at our church to raise money for cancer awareness. :)

Presidential fun fact: Woodrow Wilson was the first president to earn a Ph.D.

Day 15--(Day 106): Music is Life

2012-01-15T22:02:00.000-08:00

There is really nothing better than music. It heals the soul. I just spent the last hour finishing up my very first choral piece. Yes, it still needs editing, but it is all there and it's pretty much exactly how I imagined it. It's hard to believe that after two years of working on this piece on and off, completely changing it and then rewriting it for months, it is now nearing completion. Wow.

This picture is from one editing session before the words were added. :)

Presidential trivia: John Quincy Adams was the first president to be photographed. :)

Day 14--(Day 105): Tattoos

2012-01-14T22:23:00.001-08:00

So, I'm thinking about getting a very small tattoo. Here's one idea. It is the word requiem which in Latin is a word for a funeral or funeral song. It also includes a fermata (musical symbol which means "hold" and a coda which means "end." So, "hold on to the end". :) just one idea.

Day 13--(Day 104): Making someone's day

2012-01-13T21:36:00.000-08:00

I have a personal goal everyday and that is to somehow make it special for someone. Just "make their day." This is something that I don't often discuss, but it is an important part of my everyday life.

Today, my friend Abby and I made our friend Peggy's day. Two days ago we wrote her name on a chalk board at our local coffee place (where Peggy frequently goes), and she discovered it today.

Presidential fun fact! Abraham Lincoln was the first president to have a beard! Huh.

Day 12--(Day 103): Being There

2012-01-12T21:14:00.001-08:00

Today was one of the best days I've had in a long time, and it's a little ironic since I went to a funeral.

This week, my friend Kari lost a family friend to cancer. I talked to Kari on the phone last night, and I just felt terrible. My heart hurt so badly for Kari and her family. After our phone conversation I spent a lot of time thinking about what I could do to help Kari through this difficult time. So, I decided to go to the funeral to support Kari and her family.
It felt so right to go to the funeral. I went fully anticipating to sit by myself in the back for the service and just give Kari a big hug and then leave. I wanted to give Kari as much space as she needed while still supporting her. But, when I got there, I walked up to Kari and she looked surprised and then gave me a huge hug. She then asked me to sit with her and her family. I was very touched. I sat next to Kari during the service and did my best to comfort her. It was a special and important day for Kari and I'm so glad that I was blessed enough to share it with her.

After leaving, I felt so wonderful. I felt like I had actually done something to help someone else. It was a great day.

Presidential fun fact! James Monroe was injured during the revolutionary war.

Day 11--(Day 102): A Stressful Day

2012-01-11T22:55:00.001-08:00

Today was overwhelming. Just a lot going on and not enough time to get everything done. I'm ready for tomorrow. Looking to God for strength.

Also, did you know that president Andrew Jackson was the first president to ride in a train?

Day 10--(Day 101): All-Conference Choir

2012-01-10T17:14:00.001-08:00

All conference was today! What a pleasure it is to work with such talented high school musicians. I love choir. I'm a choir nerd and I'm proud of it!

Also, did you know that FDR was the first president whose mother was eligible to vote for him.

Day 9--(Day 100): 100 days of blogs!!!!

2012-01-09T21:08:00.001-08:00

Woohoo! I've made it all the way to 100 days of blogging! Wow. It seems like just yesterday I was just starting this. Crazy.

Here's a picture from my first month of continuous blogging.

For presidential trivia: Grover Cleveland was the first president to have a child born in the white house.

Day 8--(Day 99): Rehearsals are Fun!

2012-01-08T21:41:00.001-08:00

I love being in rehearsal!

Presidential fun fact: Bill Clinton was the first democratic president to be reelected since FDR.

Day 7--(Day 98): New Play and Happy Birthday!

2012-01-07T21:09:00.000-08:00

Today, I started rehearsals for my latest play. It's through my church drama ministry and it's called "Where Angels Sing." I'll explain more about it later, but I'm so excited about it!! I get to play a character I really, really connect with and I am excited to put a lot of bottled up emotions into this show.

Also, today is my friend/mentor, Peggy's birthday. Yay! I love birthdays and love to celebrate them with people. It's also a good excuse to give gifts, which is one of my favorite things ever. :)

Presidential fun fact: At the age of 69, Ronald Reagan was the oldest person ever to be elected president. :)

Day 6--(Day 97) Olivia!!!!

2012-01-06T20:04:00.001-08:00

Today I got to see my dear Olivia!!!

Also, did you know that Woodrow Wilson was the president of Princeton university?

Day 5--(Day 96): Cake Pops!

2012-01-05T21:14:00.001-08:00

One of the best presents I got for Christmas was this wonderful cake pop maker. I tried it out tonight! Yummy!

By the way, James Madison was the shortest president. :)

Day 4--(Day 95): Home

2012-01-04T17:41:00.001-08:00

It sure is nice to be home. Here's a picture of the bridge as we were driving to the airport in Jacksonville.

Day 3--(Day 94): Florida Theatre

2012-01-03T19:35:00.001-08:00

Florida theatre--not as good as Minnesota! I really enjoyed the production of Nunsense we saw at the Alhambra theatre, but it was a mediocre production. For a "professional" theatre, I was expecting more. The sets were very simple. The performers were decent; pretty strong singers, but nothing particularly amazing. But, the was cute. I laughed a lot and had a good time. :) Here's a picture of the sign for the theatre (sorry for the poor quality).

And here's a random presidential fact: President Ford was once a fashion model. Hmm. :)

Day 2--(Day 93): the Lights of St. Augustine

2012-01-02T18:40:00.001-08:00

Tonight we saw all the beautiful lights of st. Augustine, FL!

As for a presidential fun fact: James Buchanan was the only president who wasn't married.

Day 1!! Happy New Year! (Day 93)

2012-01-01T19:53:00.000-08:00

HaPpY nEwYeAr!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to 2012 and Happy January. It's set to be a great year! My theme for January is going to be Presidential Trivia since the Presidential Caucuses begin this month. :)

So let's start with a pretty easy one: How many states are named after a president? (See the bottom of this post for the answer)

Let's take some time to reflect on 2011...

12...the number of colleges I applied to.

2,223...the number of views my blog had in 2011. Wow.

10...the number of days I spent in Costa Rica (my first time outside the US).

95...the number of blog posts I wrote in 2011.

Countless...the number of wonderful people I met in 2011.

13...the number of productions I participated in.

Hundreds...the number of people I got to work with on the stage. What a wonderful blessing they all are!

There are also a few things that just can't be measured in numbers.

In 2011, my world stopped when I witnessed the death of my dear friend and mentor, Lorna. Watching someone die is an experience like no other. There are no words to describe the incredible range of emotions that come with that experience. It was both extremely painful and amazingly beautiful. Because of Lorna's death, I met some wonderful people, particularly Kirstin and Angela, her grand-daughters. I also formed a very strong bond with her husband Wendell. I am grateful for the blessings that came out of her death. But, I also miss Lorna very much. Her presence in my life is deeply missed, but she's definitely still with all of us.

I also met some incredibly wonderful people. Particularly, I met an incredible person named Peg. She has quickly become a mentor to me and an inspiration in many respects. She is one of the kindest people I've ever met and one of the most supportive as well. Peggy always gives great (and honest) advice. I am so fortunate to know her.

Another struggle 2011 brought me was the loss of an important friendship. It was all very complicated and this is not an appropriate place to go into much detail about it, but I will say that if there's anything I could change about 2011, I would go back and fix my mistakes in regards to this relationship.

2011 brought me some amazing opportunities particularly in the theatre world. I got to work with tons of amazing people and one of the best was my friend and mentor, Tinia. I've been waiting to work with Tinia for awhile now and 2011 finally gave me the opportunity. :)

A very exciting part of 2011 was the marriage of two of my friends, Rob and Kathy! They are two of my favorite people. They are members of my church and they are just wonderful. They asked me to sing at their wedding and it was one of the best memories I have of this year.

Overall, 2011 has been such a great year! I'm looking forward to the new adventures (including college) 2012 is sure to bring me.

The Answer to the Presidential Trivia question is: one (Washington)

Day 31--(Day 92): New Year's Eve (Day 1)

2011-12-31T21:59:00.000-08:00

I spent the day at the beautiful sandy beach!!!

Day 30--(Day 91): The Hunt for the Pink Purse (Day 2)

2011-12-30T21:06:00.001-08:00

Today I continued my hunt for the perfect pink purse...no success so far :( in the mean time, I get to look at my aunt's beautiful tree!

Day 29--(Day 90): Rachel!! (Day 3)

2011-12-29T20:48:00.001-08:00

Today I got to see my friend, Rachel! I haven't seen her for about a year, so it was great to see her again!!! :)

Day 28--(Day 89): Lights, Camera...Menorah! (Day 4)

2011-12-28T20:53:00.000-08:00

Today we drove past two houses that were decorated beautifully with lights and all the decorations you could ever imagine. Here are some pictures of the the first house:

At the top of this post you'll find a video of a Christmas Light Show. This was at the second house we visited. This family set up a light show and timed it to their own FM radio station. It was super cool! My mom says I should do this in my dorm next year. :)

And today, on the eighth and final day of Hanukkah, I finally discovered the mini Menorah I've been looking for! :)

Day 27--(Day 88): Jewelry Making and Little Sisters (Day 5)

2011-12-27T20:41:00.001-08:00

My "aunt" Susan is a terrific jewelry designer and every year when we come to Florida, she shows me a new jewelry trick. She showed me how to make a beautiful wire creation that I will make into a hair clip. Susan is one of my favorite people. She always gives me good advice and she is so kind. Not to mention that she is wonderfully sporadic and random. She definitely keeps me on my toes in the best way possible. :)

Today is also the birthday of my "little sisters" Angela and Elise! They are two of the sweetest girls I know.

Angela is the energetic one! She's always bouncing off the walls and having fun,

but she can also be pretty serious and sensitive sometimes. I love her so much. I see her everyday

at lunch and her big smile always makes my day.

I am so proud of her.

And Elise is the quieter one. She's fun and amazing, but she's a little reserved sometimes and

that's okay. She's super smart and very kind. She would do ANYTHING for her friends. She really sticks to her commitments and she is an extremely hard worker. I love her and I'm proud to know her.

I love these girls!!!

Day 26--(Day 87): Relaxed (Day 6)

2011-12-26T22:57:00.001-08:00

I didn't do much today. I helped my aunt bake a cake and make some potatoes for dinner, I went swimming, I worked on math homework, and slept. It was lovely. I spent most of the day wearing these: my lovely comfy new slippers. Yay!

Day 25--(Day 86): Flying on Christmas (Day 7)

2011-12-25T13:12:00.001-08:00

Every year, my family goes to Florida for Christmas. Though it's fun to go and see relatives, I do miss a lot of fun new years parties. We also fly down on Christmas day, so that's not always fun. But, it's great to get away and spend time with relatives I don't see very often.

Day 24--(Day 85): Christmas Eve!! (Day 8)

2011-12-24T23:08:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas Eve!! :) This is a picture of me and my dad's cousin, Beanie. :)

Day 23--(Day 84): Remembering Grandma (Day 9)

2011-12-23T23:03:00.000-08:00

One year ago today, my Grandma Dorothy died. She and I weren't particularly close, but of course I still miss her. Here's a couple pictures of her.

Day 22--(Day 83): The Prince is Giving a Ball! (Day 10)

2011-12-22T21:00:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness! More friends at Cinderella tonight!!

Day 21--(Day 82): Chanukah! (Day 11)

2011-12-21T20:42:00.000-08:00

Only 12 days until 2012!!

For the last two days I have been celebrating Chanukah. It's been fun so far. Here's my "menorah."

Day 20--(Day 81): Friends!!! (Day 12)

2011-12-20T22:25:00.000-08:00

Today, my friend Anissa came to see Cinderella!! It was super fun to see her!!

Day 19--(Day 80): Christmas Presents! (Day 13)

2011-12-19T22:33:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is making presents. Here's some of my sparkly crafting stuff. :)

Day 18--(Day 79): Cinderella Overload! (Day 14)

2011-12-18T21:23:00.000-08:00

I have worked five performances of Cinderella at the Ordway in the last 3 days. It's been a blast. The show is just beautiful and actually quite touching. I'm not ashamed to admit that I did get quite choked up when I saw the first act for the first time. There's just something that tugs at my heart strings. I adore the actress playing Cinderella. She and I have a few mutual friends and I met her for the first time yesterday. Jessica is just the sweetest person. Every time she walks on stage (which is a lot), I just smile because there's something about her that really draws me into the story. All of the performers are great, but Jessica is my personal favorite because she REALLY commits to her character. It's really lovely to watch her onstage. She's really Cinderella.

This is Cinderella's Castle. It's a playhouse that is being donated to the Ronald McDonald House. :) It's pretty awesome.

Day 17--(Day 78): I'm so lucky! (Day 15)

2011-12-17T22:22:00.000-08:00

I am so lucky!!! I get to go to work at this beautiful place and I get to see great shows and meet amazing people. :)

Day 16--(Day 77): Funky shoes! (Day 16)

2011-12-16T23:27:00.000-08:00

Percussionists are the coolest members of the band because we have matching (sort of...) shoes!

Day 15--(Day 76): I love choir concerts!!!! (Day 17)

2011-12-15T22:02:00.000-08:00

Today was our choir concert! I am so proud of my friend, Angela, who had a solo!!!! :)

Day 14--(Day 75): College friends!! (Day 18)

2011-12-14T19:50:00.000-08:00

I went to caribou coffee today and was looking at the chalkboard. I giggled because someone had written the name of one of my friends who is away at college, Maura. I don't know who wrote it, but it was super cute, so that's my picture for the day.

It made me really happy to think about Maura and all my other friends who are away at college who are coming home for break. I'm so excited to see them!!

Day 13--(Day 74): Work buddies!!! (Day 19)

2011-12-13T21:43:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of my work buddy, Claire!! We got to work together on the same door tonight! So much fun!!!!

Day 12--(Day 73): AHHHH! (Day 20)

2011-12-12T19:54:00.000-08:00

AHHHHHH! I got accepted into college!! It's not my first choice, but it's a great school and at least I know I will be going somewhere!

Day 11--(Day 72): Rice Park (Day 21)

2011-12-11T22:58:00.000-08:00

I have a great job at the Ordway Center. Every night when I leave, I get to see the beautiful Rice Park. One of many great perks. :)

Day 10--(Day 71): Living Nativity (Day 22)

2011-12-10T22:50:00.000-08:00

Only 23 days until the New Year!!!

Today, I got to see the Living Nativity at my church. Normally, I participate, but today I had other plans so I only got to stop by to watch for a little while. The concept is simple: basically, actors playing Joseph, Mary, Jesus (usually a doll, but sometimes real), and the 3 Wise Men act out the three wise men presenting their offerings for the Holy Infant. It's simple and beautiful and actually quite moving. It's one of my favorite parts about Christmas.

Day 9--(Day 70): DONE!!!!! (Day 23)

2011-12-09T21:03:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness! I could scream!!!!!!!! My college apps are finished!!!

Now onto this pile of music for auditions...:)

Day 8--(Day 69): College Apps! (Day 24)

2011-12-08T19:32:00.000-08:00

College Apps should die. That's all I'm going to say.

Day 7--(Day 68): A day which will live in infamy (Day 24)

2011-12-07T20:59:00.000-08:00

Today is, of course, the 70th anniversary of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. Much respect to those who died on that day and those who fought for our freedom in that War.

It is also a significant day for me. Today is the 6th anniversary of the day I met one of my heroes: Julie Andrews.

Here is my favorite Julie Andrews quote:

"Sometimes opportunities float right past your nose. Work hard, apply yourself, and be ready. When an opportunity comes you can grab it." -Julie Andrews

Day 6--(Day 67): A Great Quote (Day 25)

2011-12-06T20:18:00.000-08:00

I found a great quote today which (surprisingly) came from Glee. It's a good show, but I don't totally love it.

"Performing is what I need to do. It may be difficult, but it was what I was born to do."

I love this quote!!

Here's a picture of a pretty snowflake I like.

Day 5--(Day 66): Cranky day (Day 26)

2011-12-05T17:42:00.000-08:00

Today was kind of a cranky day. It was a good day, but I was cranky. End of a show plus exhaustion just does not equal a great day.

I started a new show today though! I'm assistant directing the musical at my old middle school. We're doing the Phantom Tollbooth the Musical. It is going to be super fun!

Day 4--(Day 65): Final Fiddler (Day 27)

2011-12-04T21:31:00.000-08:00

I honestly cannot believe that Fiddler is over. It seems like just yesterday we were having our first rehearsals...how strange.

I have so loved being part of this production. I loved that there were so many kids and so many people new to theater. That is the beauty of Southwest Theater Project: it really brings tons of new people into the theater world. Though we all made mistakes over the course of the show and though it wasn't perfect, I have to say that of all the shows I've been in, this was one of the most fulfilling.

Everyday, I drove about 40 minutes to get to rehearsal. That's a lot of driving and a lot of gas. But, it was SO worth it. The reason I wanted to do this show in the first place was to finally work with Tinia (our choreographer). I've known Tinia for almost four years now and she has been a true inspiration and mentor to me. We met when I was doing a show with Grant Richey and we have managed to stay in touch over the years. I've always wanted to do a show with her and I can't believe that it actually happened and now it's over.

That brings me to my other "big" reason for doing the show: Grant Richey. Grant was the person who sparked my interest in theater at the age of 12. I grew up knowing him and he died when I was 16. I was doing another production of Fiddler at the time (adding yet another reason for doing the show). Southwest Theater Project is a big part of Grant's legacy. It was a company that he started and knowing that, I had always wanted to do a show with them. It was such a cool experience to be working with people who had worked with him and people who knew him.

So, that was what made the show worth it for me (especially at first). But, I didn't know that I would meet so many wonderful and talented people.

This is a picture of Dawn, our fabulous music director. She is AWESOME!! She really taught the entire cast about the basics of singing and I swear that she could get ANYONE to sing. :)

And Terry, our director. He's probably one of the best directors I have ever worked with. So kind and so smart. I loved his ideas! He was always there to support us as actors and willing to help us whenever we needed it.

Our Stage Manager and Front of House Manager, Tree. I absolutely love this lady!! She is so amazing!! I would really love to work with her again.

My mama, Beth. What can I say? I just adore her. She's so sweet and so supportive. She's a really hard worker, but she loves to be silly as well.

And of course my sisters, Sadie and Zoe. The girls who laughed with me, cried with me and everything in between.

This has been such an awesome show!!! I love everyone!!! :)

Day 3--(Day 64): Yay for 2 shows and lots of fun friends!! (Day 28)

2011-12-03T22:25:00.000-08:00

You'll have to forgive this very brief post. We had 2 performances today and I am exhausted! Here's a picture of a bunch of friends who came to Fiddler today!

Day 2--(Day 63): Opening Night!!! (Day 29)

2011-12-02T22:25:00.000-08:00

Only 30 days left until the New Year!!

Tonight was opening night!!! I am so proud of every member of the cast. We really rocked it tonight. I can't wait for the rest of our performances. I'm starting to get sad that this wonderful show is ending...but, we have three performances to go!! yay!

Here is a picture of my buddy Josephine. She is just the cutest!

Day 1--(Day 62): Countdown to the New Year!! (Day 30)

2011-12-01T20:33:00.000-08:00

Our last rehearsal for Fiddler was tonight. It was fun, but I didn't feel like I did the very best I could...:( I'm hoping that I can get some good sleep tonight and then I'll be able to do better tomorrow.

Here's a picture of me and my sisters during "Matchmaker!"

Day 30--(Day 61): Thankful for Life

2011-11-30T20:28:00.000-08:00

I just realized that today is the last day of thankfulness (at least on this blog). Blogging everyday this month about something I'm thankful for has really made me stop and look at each day and find something, ANYTHING to be thankful for. It's helped me take a step back and realize how much I have to be grateful for.

Here is my picture for the day:

And here is a collage of all the pictures I've used this month, plus a few more. :)

Come back tomorrow for December's theme!!

Day 29--(Day 60): Thankful for Moms (both real and adoptive)

2011-11-29T20:36:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful tonight for moms. Throughout Fiddler, I have had quite a few Moms take me in.

At first, I was kind of the odd one out. A lot of people knew each other; a lot of people were related to each other. But, now we all seem like family. And I am so thankful for all of the mothers who've adopted me. Of course, there's Tinia, who is so wonderful and always there for a hug and some encouragement. Always. And there's Beth (pictured above), who actually plays my mom in the show. Beth and I have grown to be pretty close...especially this past week. I've been able to really open up to her and she has been so kind and supportive. And, Christina. She is the actual mom of my sister in the show, Sadie. She's opened her house to pick-up rehearsals and she has offered me lots of advice on my character. I really appreciate her honesty and her guidance.

And most of all, I'm grateful for my real mother. She puts up with a lot of stuff. And she made me green bean casserole tonight. My favorite!!

Day 28--(Day 59): Thankful for Encouragement

2011-11-28T20:09:00.000-08:00

Tonight's Fiddler rehearsal was a little rough...oy. I have to be honest: I'm nervous for our show. Can we pull it off???

I was feeling really discouraged after rehearsal because I felt like I didn't do my best. But, on my way out, I ran into Tinia. She gave me a big hug and told me that she is really proud of me and that I'm doing a good job. This made my night. I look up to Tinia so much and for her to say this to me meant so much. I'm feeling a little better about the whole evening now.

My friend, Marisa, sat in on the rehearsal! What a blast! Love this girl!!

Day 27--(Day 58): Thankful for Relaxing Days

2011-11-27T21:48:00.000-08:00

Today was wonderfully relaxing. I didn't do much of anything. I woke up around 11 and then I went shopping with my mom. I came home and finished my research paper. It was nice to just chill out before I go into Tech/Hell Week for Fiddler. :) Oy.

I bought these lovely shoes which remind me of my friend Kayla (she ALWAYS wears these kind of shoes).

Day 26--(Day 57): Thankful for People Who Change Lives

2011-11-26T21:42:00.000-08:00

Today was a difficult day. It was a GOOD day, just difficult. Let me explain.

Two years ago on this date (which happened to be Thanksgiving that year), my mentor, teacher, and friend, Grant Richey passed away due to cancer. It was a very difficult day then and it was a hard truth to swallow again today.

I remember waking up that day around 2 AM and feeling startled. I sat up suddenly in my bed for no apparent reason, but I felt like something was very wrong. Ignoring this feeling of impending doom, I fell back to sleep a short while later. When I actually woke up at around 8 o'clock, without getting up, I grabbed my computer (which was sitting right next to my bed) and opened up my email. There it was: a notification from Grant's CaringBridge website. And I knew, at once, that it had happened. I recall logging on to the site, hands shaking, and reading exactly what I was expecting and dreading: At around 2:10 that morning, Grant had died. I can even remember the time stamp for that post: 7:14 AM. I'm not sure why that little detail is so engrained in my head.

After I found out, the first thing I did was call my friend, Steph, who had also known Grant. I was surprisingly calm, but on the inside, I was distraught. She told me that it would be okay, that I would be okay and that she was there for me. It was immensely comforting to me and really, I think, saved me from just crawling up in a ball and crying for the rest of the day. I remember calling a couple other friends, but other than that, the entire rest of the day is a blur. It was a very painful day for me, so I think I tried to block it from my memory.

At the time, I was performing in a production of Fiddler on the Roof at the Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, WI. I had a performance the day after Thanksgiving and I was so grateful for that. Grant's passion was theatre and there was no place I would've rather been the day after he died. Grant once said that: "This is when we need theatre: when everything is falling apart." He was so right. That day, my world was falling apart and theatre was the only thing that could make it okay. But, Fiddler is not exactly the happiest show in the world. I definitely cried through almost the entire show that day and the two other performances that weekend. But, it was good to let it out. I felt very close to Grant when I was up on that stage. I had met Grant through theatre and it was almost as if I was getting to say goodbye to him with the performance.

I will always associate Fiddler with Grant. And now, I'm working on a new production of Fiddler with a theatre company Grant helped to start. The directors of the show all knew him and the choreographer, Tinia, is someone I met because of Grant. She and I became friends because of Grant's death (she helped me process the whole thing) and we have come to be pretty close.

Today, at rehearsal, I had to hold back tears during a few songs. Music triggers my memories and the music from Fiddler certainly triggers a lot of painful ones regarding Grant.

So, the whole story is coming full circle for me. I was blessed to know Grant and I miss him so much. He will always be an inspiration to me and will remain forever in my heart.

This is an essay I wrote about Grant shortly after he died (it won an essay contest a year and a half ago):

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rrtJyr5ycBIZOHBjqaGXmsB3Lvc0OMnpedpM4H4U7pc/edit

I hope that I am making Grant proud and doing justice to the wonderful person he was. He really did change my life and I am so beyond honored to have known him.

RIP Grant Richey 1960-2009

Thank you for everything.

Day 25--(Day 56): Thankful for People!

2011-11-25T21:51:00.000-08:00

People are what make my life awesome.

Yesterday, my blog hit 2000 views. I couldn't believe it. :) This blog has been such a wonderful release for me and I am looking forward to continuing the journey. I really don't blog because I want people to read it. I honestly blog for me. So, it's not an insult to me when no one comments or even reads my posts, it's really about discovering new things in the world and about myself. Of course, it's fun to have people read my blog. :)

Today, I had pilates with Heather in the morning!!! I've missed her so much, but my body definitely did not want to cooperate this morning. I also got to see her husband, Eben, who was deployed in Afghanistan for the last few months. It was great to actually see him and to know that he's okay. Heather's sister, Jennifer, was also visiting! Heather and Jennifer have become like sisters to me...mostly because I just spend SO MUCH TIME with their family. Their mom, Lynn, is my voice teacher. I was even asked to help remove the pool cover earlier this year--apparently my official induction into the family. :) Love all of them so much!!

After a wonderful morning, I went to a brush up rehearsal with a few people from Fiddler. It was great to work on our scenes and work on getting off book...we open in a week!! AHHHHH! Anyway, it was fun to see Zoe, Sadie, Christina, Cole, Harry, Tim, and Beth. They're so fun!!

After that, I headed off to work. It was a fabulous SPCO concert. :)

What are you thankful for today?

Day 24--(Day 55): Thankful for Tradition

2011-11-24T17:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!! Think about all the things you have to be thankful for...:) One of my favorite traditions my family has for thanksgiving is having three kinds of pie: apple, french silk, pumpkin. Yummy. No one in our family can agree on one type of pie, so we get all three. Lucky for me, I'm the only one who likes all three!! :)

Day 23--(Day 54): Thankful for a Day Off

2011-11-23T19:25:00.000-08:00

Today was a really nice day. I worked from 9-3 and then hit Chipotle for a burrito. Yummy. :) I then headed to Minneapolis to see if anyone was around to run scenes. There was set building going on, so there were lot of people around. Here's some pictures of the set building:

Day 22--(Day 53): Thankful for Friends!!

2011-11-22T20:44:00.000-08:00

Today was a pretty normal day. School, voice lessons, rehearsal. After rehearsal I spent a little time with my friend (and the stage manager for Fiddler), Suzie. We talked for a long time and it was fun to catch up. She's a really great friend and person and I'm so glad we're actually doing a show together!! :)

Day 21--(Day 52): Thankful for Inspiring People

2011-11-21T20:58:00.000-08:00

I had my first Messiah experience tonight!!! I absolutely loved hearing the St. Thomas University Chamber Choir perform Part I of Handel's Messiah. It was so beautiful! Two of my friends are in the choir: Maggie (aka Lena) and Emily! They both did beautifully. Emily sang the "Rejoice Greatly" solo (my favorite)...oh my goodness, it was beautiful! I love her voice. These two ladies inspire me to be a better singer and performer. Also, I got to go to the concert with some Children of Eden family: Peg, Joe, Rachel, Kerry, Carrie, and George!! Here's a couple pictures!

Further inspiration today comes from a teacher of mine, Bil Gangl. Two years ago today, Mr. Gangl died of brain cancer. He taught me a lot in the time I knew him and he is still very much missed at our school. This is an essay I wrote about him last year, which, I am honored to say won the White Bear Center for the Arts Essay Contest in May. I'm not trying to brag, but I'm so proud and humbled to have won with a piece like this: about a really awesome person who inspired me. I can't think of a better way to honor Mr. Gangl. Here is the essay:

Confidence and Courage
by Kate Sandvik

“What a Wonderful World.” A song of hope, a song full of dreams. It’s amazing that someone facing a terminal diagnosis could live by this song, but that is exactly what Bil Gangl did. Mr. Gangl was the type of person who could inspire people just by being alive, even before he was diagnosed with cancer.
Mr. Gangl was a technology education teacher at my middle school. He only taught me for one quarter in sixth grade, but he had a profound effect on my life. When I was in sixth grade, I wasn’t very confident. However, by encouraging me, Mr. Gangl taught me to be confident in myself. Every time I step on stage, the confidence I learned to have in sixth grade comes out. If I didn’t have that confidence, I certainly wouldn’t be the person I am today.
After sixth grade, I didn’t see Mr. Gangl very often. I saw him periodically around school, but I never really made an effort to go visit him. To think now of all the times I could have visited him tears my soul apart. That’s something I will always regret.
When I was in eighth grade, Mr. Gangl was diagnosed with cancer. I remember feeling as if the whole school was weighed down with fear for our favorite teacher. But leave it to Mr. Gangl to be the most upbeat of everyone; at least when his students were around. Whenever I saw him, he would be smiling and joking. And then there were those wonderful days when he would stand in the hallway between classes playing his guitar and singing. All the students and staff walked through the hallways in silent awe of Mr. Gangl.
One of Mr. Gangl’s favorite songs to play was “What a Wonderful World.” I remember one time, Mr. Gangl came into my social studies class randomly and began playing “What a Wonderful World.” My teacher didn’t mind the interruption at all. When Mr. Gangl finished the song, there was not a dry eye in the room. Knowing that Mr. Gangl was facing death and could appreciate the day and the time he still had instead of being angry or afraid was inspirational. Not too many people have as much courage as he did.
Once I left the middle school, I rarely saw Mr. Gangl. I was so busy with school and other activities and I never created time in my schedule to see him. In the spring of that year (2009), as Mr. Gangl’s condition worsened, a group of students and coaches Mr. Gangl worked with as a track and field coach, hosted a surprise party for him. Everyone from the middle school and high school was invited and many people, including myself, attended. It was wonderful that we were able to give Mr. Gangl such a profound and encouraging vote of confidence.
After school finished up and summer ended, Mr. Gangl did not return to the middle school and he was sorely missed. It seemed to be a generally accepted truth that his cancer would claim his life. Still, when Mr. Gangl died on November 21, 2009, most students and staff were in a state of shock. I certainly was. Mr. Gangl’s memorial was held on the day after Thanksgiving and to my great dismay, I could not attend. I was performing a play at the time and had a performance that evening. I desperately wanted to skip the performance in order to go to the memorial, but that was not possible. I could not let my cast mates down, but I deeply regret not being there to remember Mr. Gangl. I know that Mr. Gangl would have understood, but I felt--and still feel--that I let him down by not going. Besides, accepting Mr. Gangl’s death has been more difficult without the closure of a memorial. After that experience, I promised myself I would never miss a funeral or memorial service again; but, not surprisingly, it happened again and I’m sure that I will have to feel that pang of guilt and regret again many times in the future.
Based upon the reaction to his death, I now realize how much Mr. Gangl taught about community. Through coaching and tech ed., he united the middle school and the high school students and staff by maintaining connections with former students and by forging relationships with staff members he would not normally need to associate with. Seeing how parents, teachers, and students reacted to Mr. Gangl’s death was very moving and powerful. To see just how many people his life touched was incredible.
Although coping with the loss of such an inspiring teacher and person has been difficult, I try to remember the important lessons Mr. Gangl professed and that helps me. Saying that Mr. Gangl taught me many life lessons would be an understatement. Mr. Gangl taught me to appreciate everyday and every moment I am blessed to have. Through his battle with cancer, he taught courage. He faced his diagnosis with bravery and never looked back. What he taught me is what I will remember most about him.

Day 20--(Day 51): Thankful for Better Days!!

2011-11-20T21:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was rough, but today was so much better!! I cleaned my house in the morning and then went to work at noon. I saw the majority of the MN Opera's World Premiere of Silent Night. It is about the Christmas truces during World War I. There were some parts that I really liked and some parts that weren't my favorite thing ever. But it was beautiful.

After work, I got to go see a fun original show at the Minneapolis Theater Garage starring my friends Lydia and Mary Helen. It was great to see both of them!!!

Here's a picture of me and Lydia!!

Day 19--(Day 50): Thankful for AWFUL days...yes, it's true.

2011-11-19T21:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I posted about the amazing day I had. Well, I think I jinxed it. Today was awful. Nothing seemed to go the way it should've.

I got up in time (yay) and left for rehearsal at 8:20 which was on time (yay)! Then it started to go wrong. I missed my exit, so I had to turn around which lost me about 15 minutes of travel time. This put me a half an hour away from where I needed to be in 15 minutes. It was bad, but I managed to get there right on time. It was a MIRACLE.

Rehearsal for Fiddler went alright, but it seems like no one remembers any of our choreography. It's so frustrating because a lot of people have been gone, so they haven't learned some parts and haven't taken the time outside rehearsal to get caught up. We were supposed to do four big numbers today, but we only got through two of them. It was so frustrating. Pull it together, people!!

I also want to briefly vent about rehearsals. I love everyone in the show and all of our directors. Everyone is so nice. Today, our choreographer, Tinia got very frustrated with us and rightfully so. She's really busy and she's trying to juggle a lot of rehearsals for other shows right now, so she was only at one rehearsal this week. It was so frustrating that people in the cast aren't respectful of her and don't pay attention. Everyone expects their time to be used wisely (some people get mad when they come to rehearsal and have to sit around for a while), yet they waste our directors's time by showing up late, talking during rehearsals, and being lazy during rehearsals. Now, I'm not saying that I'm perfect by any means. I am probably the most talkative person and yes, I do arrive late sometimes. But, I feel like I try really hard to always do my best at rehearsals and try not to talk as much as possible. Ok, vent over.

Back to my day. After rehearsal, I walked out side and it was SNOWING. I almost cried. Snow was not what I needed. I went and picked up my dad at the auto-repair shop and drove him home. Directly after that, I drove over to school for the two final performances of the middle school play. On my way there, I nearly died. I'm totally serious. I was driving and I wanted to slow down, but when I started to brake, my car spun out and I ended up facing the completely opposite direction and on the shoulder of the other lane. It was SO scary. I was really lucky because there weren't any other cars around, so no one got hurt.

So, I got to the play and it went well, but then I had to leave early to go to work. Just when I thought the day couldn't get worse, I arrived in the city and realized all the parking ramps required pre-payed cash for event parking. I didn't have any cash. I literally cried. I eventually found a ramp that accepted credit cards. As I was walking into work (for which I was ten minutes late), I dropped my Fiddler script in the snow. Luckily, it's not my really book, it's just a copy, but still...

Why am I thankful for awful days?? Terrible days make great days seem so much more special and meaningful. :)

Day 18--(Day 49): Thankful for Great Days

2011-11-18T22:37:00.000-08:00

Today was just a great day. My stats project went well, I met with Peggy, I photographed an amazing play, and I arranged two pieces I'll be doing for my senior recital. "And the day was perfect." :)

Here's a picture of me and some friends who came to the show tonight.

Day 17--(Day 48): Thankful for Surprises!

2011-11-17T21:27:00.000-08:00

Today, I ventured out to Southwest Minneapolis for Fiddler rehearsal. After we finished, I drove my friend Suzie (pictured below) to her bus stop.

Then, to my surprise, I looked up and I saw this sign:

I realized that my friend, Lydia was in this show! I texted her to tell her and she told me that she was actually in the middle of the show right then. So, I waited around so I could see her after the show. It was super fun to see her. She is one of my favorite people. Lydia played Maria in the Sound of Music when I was in it this summer. She was amazing!!! I miss her so much! :)

It was a great surprise and a lovely way to end a long day.

Day 16--(Day 47): Thankful for Freedom

2011-11-16T20:41:00.000-08:00

I was thinking today about freedom. In the U.S., we are lucky enough to have many freedoms including freedom of speech. This allows us to voice our opinions even if they are not "government supported." As the president of my school's politics club, I try to stay in the loop with current issues and politics. I love having political discussions and I am so glad that we have the freedom to discuss politics in our country.

Here's a couple pictures from our meeting today!!

Day 15--(Day 46): Thankful for Concerts!

2011-11-15T22:33:00.000-08:00

There is nothing better than being on stage. It doesn't really matter why you're on stage, It just matters that you are on stage. It's especially great when you're with fabulous people whom you can trust. Tonight was my last first band concert. That's right: first band concert of senior year. Fun, scary, exhilarating all at once. :) Plus, it was our new band director's debut concert at our school! I really wanted everything to go well for that reason. I think it did. I am proud to play in this ensemble.

In honor of our director's first concert, we presented him with a card and flowers during the concert. This is a picture of Trudy, who planned it with me!

Day 14--(Day 45): Thankful for Young Actors

2011-11-14T21:26:00.000-08:00

Today, I got to go back to the show I've been missing because of Children of Eden. I'm an assistant director for a show called 45 Hours in 2 Acts which was written by my friends Abby, Davis, Kyle, and myself. It's really fun to see the words come to life especially because I haven't seen the show for about a month. The kids have been working really hard and they are doing a great job. I'm so proud of them!!

Here is a picture from today as well as a picture of the poster. We open on Thursday!!

Day 13--(Day 44): Thankful for the Little Moments

2011-11-13T20:53:00.000-08:00

Today marks the last day of Children of Eden. This show has been fun, exciting, emotional, frustrating, amazing, challenging, wonderful, and most of all--AWESOME!! I've had a great time getting to know everyone in the show. I am so honored to have been part of this show and I am so proud of all that we accomplished.In life, it's really easy to forget about the small things and

focus on the larger, "more important" times. But, sometimes we should all take a moment to remember the little things in life.

Like awkward hugs, animal crackers in an ark shaped bowl, and braiding hair. There were so many wonderful "large things" that occurred during this show: hitting all of the right notes, getting a standing ovation, hearing the audience laugh. But, there were also so many wonderful small moments. I feel like this cast really embraced the small moments and celebrated their importance.

Take a look around you. Let the small joys in your life fill you.

As for Children of Eden, I will miss it. I'm so happy that I got to be part of it.

Finishing a show is a little like someone dying: you spend time getting to kn

ow the show and then you are away from it for brief spans of time bet

ween rehearsals and shows and then, all of a sudden, it's all over. Done. Just like that. There's no going back. The hardest part of love is letting go.

Day 12--(Day 43): Thankful for Fantastic Friends!!

2011-11-12T23:15:00.000-08:00

I have the most amazing friends. I had a bunch of people come to the show tonight including Zoe, Nikki, and Carol!! I was so happy that they could come. This is a picture of me and Zoe after the show.

I also met with Tinia about colleges today. Before our meeting I was extremely stressed out and overwhelmed with all that I have to accomplish for my college auditions. After talking to her, I am feeling a lot better about the whole thing.

Day 11--(Day 42): Thankful for Fridays (and Friday's)

2011-11-11T23:13:00.000-08:00

I love Fridays!!! And I love Friday's!!! Tonight after the show, we went out to TGIFriday's. It was super fun!!!!!

Emily, Logan and I were sitting a few seats away from Joe who plays God in the show. Joe gave us some fries, so we started calling them "God Fries." :)

Day 10--(Day 41): Thankful for Fun!!

2011-11-10T20:29:00.000-08:00

Okay, so, forgive this boring title. There was no other word to describe tonight's rehearsal for Fiddler!!! It was fabulously fun! Here are a couple pictures from the rehearsal. :)

Day 9--(Day 40): Thankful for Music

2011-11-09T20:39:00.000-08:00

Today, I received some music for my senior recital from one of my favorite local composers. I was inspired to restart a composition I began two years ago. I really love composing!!

Here's a picture of my keyboard that I hook up to my computer for composing!!

Day 8--(Day 39): Thankful for the Right to Vote

2011-11-08T20:52:00.000-08:00

I am lucky enough to live in a country where voting is a right. Today, I got to vote for the very first time! Yay!!!!

You can't complain if you don't vote.