Music seminar

Instead of going to vespers, Jonathan and I listened to the last section of Dr. Ashton's seminars on music from a SEYC several years ago.  They are really great and really make you think about the kind of music that churches should include in their worship service.  Bryn (who is currently in Dr. Ashton's Music and the Christian Church class) and I want our church to listen to the talks this summer when we get home from school.  I think our church could really benefit from his ideas on this subject.  Thanks goes to Jonathan for telling us about the seminars on AudioVerse and convincing us to listen to them.

If you'd like to listen to the seminars, click here.

Farewell song

Well, it's official. I'm a student in the best department (or School, rather) on this campus. Take a look and tell me I'm not right.

And to think, I almost skipped this convocation because I overslept. I'm SOO extremely thankful that Ty called me and woke me up because I would have been eternally sad to have missed this occasion. (I managed to miss this goodbye convocation for Ms. Caldwell a couple years ago...) While the farewell song was awesome, it's sad that Ms. Chamberlain is leaving. I'm just glad she didn't decide to leave before I graduated. She's truly an amazing teacher, like many others in the SJ&C.

TN photoshoot

I love having my parents around.  It means I get to procrastinate on my homework (more than usual) and go do other things that are much more fun.  Take today, for instance.  I went to my first two classes and then, instead of going straight home to write my five pages for Literary Journalism, I met my parents at the Tractor Supply store and my mum took pictures of me holding the chicks and ducklings.  It was tons of fun, except that I learned the chicks are fine with being held, but the ducklings don't enjoy it at all.  Here's an example:

Chick who likes to cuddle

Duckling who wants to be put down

I think the duck picture is also amusing because of the sign right above my head.  In the picture right before this one, the previous duckling I was holding pooped in my hand.  So I put him back in the basin and grabbed another one, who also apparently didn't enjoy being held.

Anyway, so later today, after orchestra, my mum took pictures of Jonathan and me.  That was fun too.  For your enjoyment, I've included one of those as well.

 

 After the photoshoot (and yes I know it's supposed to be two words, but I think that looks ugly, so I always spell it as one word), we met the rest of my family at the Curry Pot for Indian food and looking at pictures.  It was a great end to the day.

Last Accent

Bryn's recital was awesome.  Of course, I'm a biased big sister, but I heard other people say similar things about it, so my opinion must be right.  I especially loved seeing her in the Green Room getting ready for the event.

After the recital and talking to Bryn and my other family members and friends for a bit, I headed back to the Accent office to finish editing the last issue for this year.  It was a strange feeling to be at work tonight and know that I won't ever have to rush from orchestra on a Tuesday evening to get to the office and start working.

Ack, this year is really and truly coming to a close.  I remember the first Monday of the school year when Emily (the editor) and Emily (the photo editor) and I met in the office to discuss what we were going to be doing for the news section this year.  I was completely overwhelmed with having to get eight stories for the first issue without the help of the News Reporting class.  But somehow that issue came together, just like all the rest have throughout the rest of the year.  And now, suddenly, it's all over.  How does time go by so fast?  One summer day I'm reading a list of scheduled events that we will have to cover during the school year and then, all of a sudden here I am, just back home from my last night in the Accent office.

I'm really going to miss the fun and camaraderie of hanging out (and yes, working too) with the staff.  I think part of what made it so much fun was that most of the staff are journalism majors and, while I knew all their names before working on the Accent, I actually got to know them by being in a room together for hours each week.  I know I won't miss the stress of working with the News Reporting class or trying to find writers for last-minute articles or doing deadline writing myself if no writers could be found, but I'll definitely miss the people.  Emily, Katie, Adrienne, Emily, Stefan, Aimee, Matt, Aimee and Mr. Lale (and other staff members who occasionally dropped by the office), thanks for all the memories you've given me of a great year as a newspaper-creation team.  It's been an awesome experience!

SM screening

Apparently I have become so used to giving interviews that I can anticipate upcoming questions when I'm the one being interviewed.  I had my SM screening today with Andrew Dormus, the assistant chaplain.  First I commented on his large Canadian flag hanging in his office and he told me that he had just put it up and then said that he was born in Canada, but hasn't really been back since he was 12.  Then we got into the screening.  Most of it was stuff that was on the application, and I remembered many of my answers from that, so it worked out well.  And then I talked so much for some questions that I happened to answer the next question or two within my answer for the first one.  "Wow, you're just knocking these down in record time," Andrew said.  After the last question he told me that it was the fastest SM screening he has done so far.  So I guess doing all those interviews for Accent articles this past year has helped my being-interviewed skills as well.  I'm not sure if that's a skill I'll need to have in my lifetime, but I guess it can't hurt.

Later I met my parents who just arrived this afternoon for Bryn's senior violin recital tomorrow.  The three of us took a quick trip to Soddy Daisy to visit my sister-in-law and niece and nephew.  Then we drove back and now I'm quite ready for some sleep.  Yes, I did stay awake all night to write my research paper and I think I'm writing-ed out for this semester, which is too bad because I have 10 more pages to write for Literary Journalism and I have to finish my Adv. Creative Writing story, too.  Somehow I'll make it through.  I hope.

Chicks and ducks

When I woke up this morning I didn't even want to think about writing my research paper, which was my only major homework of the day.  Yes, I've been doing some excellent procrastinating and didn't start writing the paper until today, although I did have most of my research done and my sources picked.  So, in order to continue the wonderful procrastination work I've been doing, Jonathan and I went on a date to the Tractor Supply Co. to look around the store and then to the Creamy Bean Factory for lunch (veggie Turkey Pesto sandwiches and gelato).

The Tractor Supply store was really interesting, but the best part was when we found actual live baby chicks and ducks!  I was so excited that I crouched right down beside their basins for a long time to watch them and try to pet them.  Finally I got so hungry I consented to leave the adorable barnyard creatures and we had lunch (after scrubbing our hands, of course).  We ate outside in the gorgeous sunshine and then the inevitable happened; we finished our food and reality set in.  It was research paper time.  I've managed to procrastinate some more so I think I'll be staying up all night to finish it by 9 a.m.  Oh well, won't be the first time, but hopefully it will be the last.

Retreat review

Here's a cautionary word of advice: If you're ever invited (entreated, cajoled, forced) to play the BafaBafa game, just say no.  It's a ridiculous waste of time.  After playing the part of an Alphan for half an hour, I followed Chris' example and sat down to just watch the rest of my touchy, laughy, happy-go-lucky "society."  I was happy that no one seemed to notice or mind me sitting out.  After making sure I wasn't going to get in trouble for not being involved, I kept reading "The Bronze Bow," which I had wisely brought to the afternoon session.

I'd tell you about the rest of the weekend, but it wasn't much better.  I'll spare you the details.  So, in conclusion, just know that I survived the SM retreat and made it back to SAU in one piece.

PS - Robbie mentioned something interesting at Friday night supper.  I started reading the weekend schedule out loud.  At the top of the program it said, "Student Missions Exit Retreat."  Right after I read those words, Robbie said, "Why is it that Adventists are always retreating?  Shouldn't we be advancing instead?"  Profound?  I kind of thought so.

SM retreat

In an hour I'll be leaving for the annual SM retreat.  I'm not really super excited about the idea cause I have a lot of stuff that I could be doing this afternoon.  But oh well.  It's only tonight and tomorrow and we come back tomorrow night.  Anyway, have a good Friday night and Sabbath.  I'll tell you more about the retreat when I get back.