SarahMidg

In the cold, cold north. Looking forward to a few weeks of family visiting, friend visiting, practicing, reading, cooking, and..... yes snow.

You know what amazes me the most right now about coming home? How MUCH everyone has changed in the past couple months I've been gone. I think I see a lot more than everyone who has stayed in NY because Im expecting to come home to the same home- but its not. It really amazes me how the further you get from High school, the more you REALLY get to know a person ( I don't mean this in a bad way, just as an observation). My theory is that we are pushed so much in public school to meet a certain expectation, that we don't really get to know what it is WE want until later on. For example- college. How many people go to college simply because they are told they have to? How many of those people don't want to improve themselves and would rather just work and make a living? How many people actually go on to obtain degrees past a bachelors? Instead of pushing COLLEGE in the faces of students... wouldn't it be more beneficial to instill into them a love of learning? Shouldn't we be teaching them how to stay curious and interested in things, instead of pushing them through school just to "get the degree"? How many people do you know are ACTUALLY life-long learners? I think we loose track of why higher education exists in the first place- and colleges are becoming more like trade schools.

Sorry- ranting on... lost my initial point.

Even though change seems to be occurring at a rapid pace.... it's really exciting to watch. Adulthood is way better than I ever thought it would be. It's scary... and tough... but way better.

I have tonsilitis for the THIRD FREAKIN' TIME in SIX WEEEKS. You know what that means for a wind player? I haven't been able to practice very much. I have also had to take time off work and live off of soup and ice cream. Not to mention that I can't talk and can only communicate with people via text message.

I have two more concerts tomorrow that I have to fake my way though (ie- finger the parts but not acutally play) and then some finals next week. Thank god I dont have a jury or else I would really be fucked.


Oh and they refuse to take my tonsils out until I get tonsilitis 3-4 more times. Instead they are placing me on steroids for four months to see if that does anything. I would rather not waste the time and kill off an entire semester I'm paying $13000 for. Id rather they just yank them out and be done with it.



But on the up side of things:

-I got to judge 24 alto saxophones for their placement auditions at the tri state festivle held here this weekend. Heard some really amusing auditions........

-I went to a pretty interesting conducting clinic today held by one of the tri state conductors

-I fly home in a week and a half!!!

My amazing new dinner dish:

Brown Rice cooked in low-sodium Chicken Broth instead of water
Assorted Veggies and Cashews cooked and then topped slightly with olive oil

Mix and enjoy!

Since I stayed in Tally for all of Thanksgiving break, I decided to use my time wisely and learn how to cook a little. And... I have been having a blast! I made some of the best homemade mac and cheese I have EVER had for Thanksgiving (was also the most complicated thing I have ever tried to make).I decided to make it with whole wheat pasta instead of white and it made a HUGE difference. And I have also baked three dozen muffins for various things. Once all my finals are over I am going to make cornbread and an African Couscous dish!

Next week is.... the week from hell. I have a concert or rehersal till late in the evening every night until next Sunday. And guess whose finals all happen to be on Monday? yeah.....

Atleast after that Im free and clear until my plane leaves on December 15th! I cannot express how much I want to go home right now. I'm really homesick for NY.

Boy am I ready to head back to New York. I need to get away from Tallahassee to re-group myself for the nest year and a half. It has been a great semester, but I am ready to see home again. Whenever a major change occurs in my life I need sometime to play catch up.

Things down here have been hectic- I was in three concerts this week and will be in five more after Thanksgiving break. One of them has me dressing up like Michael Jackson. MY apartment is a complete disaster due to a lack of cleaning time. Also, my tonsilitis came back =( Not as bad as it was a few weeks ago- I can still talk and eat and play, but its not comfortable. I am getting them checked out by a professional when I come home to see if I need them out.

I am getting extremely fed up with my job, and the lack of job opportunties down here. While I like the fact that this job does not interfere with my school work ( and I have a lot of it!), the people I work for have started to get really sketchy. I am pretty sure one of my bosses drinks on the job when he works with me (although I dont work with him often), and they are VERY lazy people. Today they called to tell me that they wanted me to work from 11am-4pm instead of the night shift.... only I have a class from 1:30-2:30 and they know this because they have a copy of my class schedule. So what did they tell me to do? Come in from 11:30-1. Thats retarded. I am going to fight them and ask to work later tonight because I cannot afford to just work an hour and a half on a day where I usually work 6 hours. Hopefully I find something better this summer- I am putting in to work at the 5 week music camp here , which pays $1500, but I would also like to get another job. I am going to start applying around next semester if I can.

Then there is my comps commitee...... I need to start figuring out who to put on my committee. The application is due next semester. I need three faculty members, including my own teacher.

Lots to do!

I took my first trip to Georgia this weekend to see a national park.... and some Allegators!

Got a free itrip

I might do a concerto competition in Ocala, FL in January. First place winner gets $1,000 and two performances of their concerto with the Ocala Symphony orchestra

I just learned that you can cook rice in Chicken Broth to add to the flavor

Its still 80 degrees out everyday

Possible getting sushi with some friends on thanksgiving- my first holiday spent alone

I cannot WAIT to get back to New York..... I miss everyone so much!

I have sewn the same pair of jeans four times now.... I hope they stop getting holes in them......

I think I need to stop rambling and go take a shower.

Some of you already know this, but Sunday night/ Monday morning I started to come down with what I thought was strep throat. By the time I felt at my worse on Monday- the health center on campus was closed for the day. I decided to ride out the night with some tea and ibuprofen and make an appointment Tuesday morning. Well by the time Tuesday morning hit the infection felt much worse- my throat was swollen, I could feel the infection all the way up to my ears, I could not talk, and I could not eat or drink. It was so bad that I had to carry tissues around with me to spit into every few minutes because I could not even swollow that.  I got to the health center and when the nurse practitioner went to check my throat all I could hear her say was " Oh bless your little heart, you poor thing" ... uh oh. They did a throat culture for strep, which came back negative, and then sent me to the lab again to get blood work done to check for mono... which came back negative. Then they finally tested me for tonsilitis- BINGO! They decided to give me a shot in my side right there to get anibiotics in me as fast as possible and I had to lay down in a room for 20 minutes so they could monitor everything. They finally gave me some RX's for antibiotics and wicked strong painkillers so I could try to get some liquids in me. The worst part about the antibiotics they put me on is that you have to drink a full glass of water with each pill, and it usually takes me about a half an hour to get a full glass down. So right now I am living off of medication, water, powerade, ice cream, and popcicils. When I can eat again I am hoping to find enough change in my piggy bank to afford an hamburger!

They had me come back again this morning to make sure I was hydrated and that everything was working ( which thank god I was able to re hydrate myself because I did NOT want to spend my afternoon in the Tallahassee hospital... this city is dirty). And they have me coming in again on Friday. I cannot go to my classes for the rest of the week and I have been unable to play my saxophone since Sunday night. The worse part is- I was supposed to play in an all saxophone concert Tuesday night =(. I am hoping to at least be better enough by Friday night to work.


But on the upside of life...... I am going into a local elementary school Monday to teach a kindergarten general music class about the woodwind section!

Thats all for now. XOXOXOXO

Dear LJ friends,

As many of you know, I usually try to eat as healthy as possible...... but I have a weakness. And that weakness is sugar. I cannot have just one cookie, or one donut every once in a while at work. I going into a sugar happy frenzy and just eat until I feel sick.  This addiction will definetly NOT be good when I start teaching and people bring in candy and cookies and such every week. So in an attempt to control myself around sugar, I am giving it up. Cold turkey. Starting October 30th (I would have started Nov. 1st but I work friday and would really like to not eat any donuts at work) until valentine's day. At that point I will evaluate myself and see if I think I can work it back into  my life in moderation.

So, if you see me near sugar......... hold my mouth shut!

I like to blog in lists
I got a $3 raise at work and am now making $10 an hour
I did some research and lowered my utilities bill this month by $50
I want a coffee press
I got a 98 on my theory midterm
I got my hair cut down here in tally and I have to say... I really miss my NY hairdresser
I found other Thanksgiving orphans to eat thanksgiving dinner with
I get to read through saxophone and cello duets next month and I am wicked excited

That is all for now.

What I miss about NY right now:


The Smell of fall
Leaves Changing
Drinking starbs with ashley in our room on Saturday mornings
Knowing that peppermint hot cocoa is coming soon
Going to bars ( have not been to one since Europe)
Going to the market
Dunkin Donuts
Apple picking
Cute fall clothes

I miss fall- not the cold... just the feeling of the leaves turning and everything being beautiful. However it is still 85 degrees out here so I am not going to complain!

On the other hand... living on my own has had its ups and downs. I never realized how different it is from living in dorm. Even grocery shopping has had its fun moments. I am slowly learning what to buy for the week, how much or little one person can actually eat, and what I used to deem as healthy has changed. My weight has fluxuated up and down by about 5-7lbs all semester as I am learning what is good for my body and what isnt. For example... I recently learned that I should NOT eat peanutbutter or tortilla chips every week. So instead I am going to purchase some more fruit and possible start to make some pita sandwhiches? Its amazing all the things you take for granted!

Money is another learning expierence. How much to budget away for this and that. How much can I acutally live off? I surprised myself- I am not as needy as I though i would be. I am not scared about paying back my loans because i have learned that I have no problem saying no to things I cannot afford and I really live off of very little, happily. I don't need much to keep my spirits up! I would like a little extra spending here and there... but it will come in due course.


lastly- I got all the classes I wanted for next semester! I am taking Music Bib, Solo Woodwind lit, Analytic MAasterworks (a theory class), Sax ensemble, lessons, band, and women's gee ( I LOVE this chorus).

Love you ALL!

List of things Jonathan and I did while he was here this week:

1.) Went food shopping together
2.) He sat and watched me work my night shift making doughnuts
3.) Went Kayaking
4.) Came to some of my classes
5.) He made me dinner twice
6.)Went to Stevi B's pizza buffet with the other saxophone grad students
7.) Went to the Pitaria TWICE because its amazing
8.) Went to Mr. Roboto's- which is, hands down, my favorite restaurant here in Tally. For $22 we shared a california sushi roll, a chicken and noodle habachi plate,  fried dumplings and two drinks. For those of you who don't know how expensive this stuff can be- its a steal!
9.) Saw Taking Woodstock- a movie a friend of mine from HS is in. I also got a free movie ticket while we were there through my Regal rewards card!
10.) Watched the rest of season 8 of smallville to prepare for season 9!
11.)Walked around this giant campus
12.) Went running/ worked on at my make shift apartment gym that I got from my reward points of my credit card! ( which ps- my credit card company must like me because they swtiched my card over from the MTVu student card to a REAL credit card with lower APR! sweet).
13.) Sat in bed and talked until all hours of the morning like we were at a girl's slumber party.

So all of you who know me out there, know that I have issue with spending money. I have to analyze whether or not its a good purchase, double check my budget to make sure the money is there, and then take another week to debate if this item is something I really need.

Well... I think grad school loans has just snapped me out of this. So far I am about $40,000 in loan debt and next year (unless a miracle happens) I will be adding another $30,000 to that debt....and then the interest that follows. Yes at first glance it might look like I am insane for putting me self essentially $80,000 in debt when I owed nothing coming out of Fredonia. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I cannot emphasis enough to you how much moving out of state, being completely on my own (I moved down knowing not ONE person), and studying at an amazing university can change a person. My eyes have been opened to so much in the past month and I have been gaining an education down here that I could have never got in New York. I am honestly happier than I have ever been in my entire life- and if it means living in a condo or apartment until I am 40 I will suck it up.

I love the adventure I am on right now- this was one of the best ideas I ever had.

I felt the need to update via live journal instead of blogger for the time being since most of the people I know who actually read blogs... read it off live journal. So here it goes:

At the end of the week I will have been living in Tallahassee, FL for a month now. It has gone by way too fast. On the positive end of things I LOVE having my own apartment all to myself. It is a nice feeling to just be able to do your own thing, have whatever food you want in the house, clean when you want to, etc. I have set up a little gym/exercise area so that I do not have to trek 20 minutes across campus only to go to an overly crowded gym and wait another 20 minutes to use each machine.

As for the college itself, it has been beyond my expectations of the place. I LOVE it here so much, and keep reminding myself that its worth the massive amounts of money. The teachers are incredible, the students are amazing, the musicians are unbelieveable, my teacher is extraodinary, and it seems that everyday I get to meet an amazing new person.

Outside of the college living in a new state has pushed me to grow in so many ways- I cannot emphasis this enough. The people down here are nothing like the New England people. And I have been gaining a stronger sense of street smarts because the homeless/robbery/crime rates here are really high. I have pepper spray and a sonic whistle that I carry with me at all times. I have not had a bad experience yet but I want to be safe- espeically with a 85,000 students going to Florida State this year.

I found myself a job as well. I LOVE the people I work for,the other employees there, and the job itself. However.... they are not consistant in their schedules and when they pay you. I might get 12 hours a work one week and 15 the next- neither of which is enough for me to live on. I have been trying to apply to other places in hopes that something pops up. It is very hard to find a job in the city because everyone is looking. I am hoping that at the very least this job will last me until the summer and I can snag up a better job left by a student going home. I am checking out my connections to the Ruby Tuesdays down here this week though. I know two people who work there and said to come in and they will try to get me a hosting job- which would be nice.

As for the job I currntely have, I am making homemade doughnuts. Last night I worked the overnight shift with this other guy and around 1am no one had come in for almost two hours, so we got bored and started creating our own doughnuts. We came up with a caramel apple doughnut and a chocolate covered cherry doughnut- both of which ended up being a huge success with the late night drunk crowd!

So there you have it for now. I promise to keep posting back on this thing every now and then. I miss you all!!! Come visit- you are welcome anytime =)

This is the Mondo Beyondo list brought to you by the Superhero Designs Journal.

Part One:

1.) What do you want to acknowledge yourself for in regard to 2007?
I have started to become more of an adult than I ever realized I could be. My music has changed, my relationships have changed, my art has changed, basically my whole world has changed. I finally started playing music because I want to, not because I go to school for it or have to. Because of this I have begun to develop my own sound and style. I also won 3rd place in a state-wide photography competition. I have never won anything for my art before and this was a great thrill.


2.) What is there to grieve about 2007?
The first thing that comes to mind is my failed attempt at getting my performer certificate. I have wanted to get this since I was a junior in high school. I worked my ass off, became a performance major on top of education, and just missed the cut. This was one of the hardest hitting failures I have ever experienced. I just thank God that I don't play for awards or recognition anymore. I would have probably never picked up my saxophone again.
Next, I didn't break out of my shell as much as I had wanted to. I am a shy and conservative person on the outside and bold on the inside. My insides are dying to get out.

3.) What else do you need to say to declare it complete?
2007 has been the biggest year of growth for me yet. Musically speaking and overall. I still feel like I am growing though. There is so much more about me left to discovery. I am excited to keep pushing forward and finding out what I'm made of.


* I declare 2007 Complete*


* 2008 is my year of living Bold*



Part Two:

What do you want to draw into your life?

I want to fill my body with all of its needs and stop neglecting it. This includes a balance of natural foods, exercise, rest, sleep, play, artistry, knowledge, and growth. I also want to open up and share my whole person with others. I want to draw in more artistry than before and use myself to create my music.

Mondo Beyondo for 2008:

I am going to take a giant leap and finally accept that I don't want to teach public school music. I am going to not be afraid to tell people this and instead tell them exactly what I want from my life. No more fear of rejection. I am going to start my playing career by building up programs and playing around as much as possible. I am going to promote myself to death.
I am also going to start my other dream- of owning my own private lesson studio. I am going to take up as many students as I can and learn as much about this as I can while I am still in college. The more Information and practice I have now, the faster I will be able to get the ball rolling after I finish my degrees.
I am going to work towards getting into Florida State for Grad school. After much searching, this really is my top choice. I would love to live down there for two years and study after I graduate Fredonia.
I want to travel more. I want to see the world, people and places. And someday, when I get the money, I want to take my sister and parents on a really nice trip to Europe.

http://sarahmidg.blogspot.com/2007/10/fall-break.html

http://sarahmidg.blogspot.com/2007/10/its-all-ok.html

Game has been going on for a few weeks now, and I have been tagged... here goes nothing!
Six Secrets:

1.) Everytime I walk pass a mirror I have to look at myself. I check to see if I look fat, if my hair is straight, etc.. If I think I look great then I end up dancing around in front of it for a few seconds.

2.) I am afraid of money. I love spending it, but I am always worried that Im not going to have enough for things I need. Espeically now that Im in school and dont have a steady income.

3.) I am obsessed with weddings. I love the idea of everything that surrounds the wedding. Planning, decorating, and of course the actualy spending the rest of your life with another person part.

4.) I am a left-brained, visual learner by nature.

5.)I exercise during my free time so I can drink more coffee and eat more carbs ( my two biggest weaknesses).

6.)I have a tendency to play out senerious and conversations in my head before they acutally occur. Chances are I have said or talked to you about something that I have thought about and gone over in my head about a million times before I have even seen you. I even get to a point where I have you and myself saying different things in reaction to the first so that I can test out what Im going to say and perfect it before it ever comes out of my mouth in front of you. Yes.. I realize its a bit crazy.


Who Im tagged next: Ashley Atwater!! HA!

http://sarahmidg.blogspot.com/2007/08/new-york-state-fair-competition-entries.html