Happy Memorial Day!

1 year down!

This afternoon I took my last final for the semester and thereby completed my first year of college! It feels great to (1) have accomplished this, and (2) TO BE DONE!!!!!!! I haven't learned my final grades from everything yet, but I know I got an A in Psychology II (Human Growth & Development) and in College Algebra. My other classes (music and microbiology) haven't posted their final grades. Both Psych and Algebra had 2-part finals. After I took the first part in each of them, I had a high enough grade that I didn't have to take the second part! Woohoo! That took a load off! Plus, I didn't exactly have a final in music either - I had a "concluding assignment" my teacher said. It was confusing and pretty much just a final. 

Micro turned out to be my hardest class this semester (had a very difficult teacher. For example: He put an entire chapter in our final that was not in the syllabus and that he didn't cover or ever mention in class). Fortunately, this feeling was not reciprocal: I was quite frustrated with him most of the time but he told me and my friend that we were some of the best students he's had... Anyway, it's over! I have the same teacher (Carolyn Deniker) for both the classes I'm taking next semester (Anatomy & Physiology I & II) and she's awesome, so I'm really looking forward to the fall semester :) 

Plans for the Summer: Vacation beginning next Friday! I have spring classes to register for at Allegheny College, online medical transcription classes to finish, take a CPR course at the Hospital with my friend (Emily), Vacation Bible School flyers and posters to make, and possibly a tutoring job. I also want to read this: 

...and this

....and this.

...and anything else that comes a long and looks interesting. 

These are on my Amazon account wishlist and I'm saving my swagbucks to get them: 

(see the widget at the bottom of the page to learn about Swagbucks - I can redeem 450 swagbucks for a $5 Amazon gift card. If you decide to sign up, PLEASE do it through my widget!!)

I final have time to do some pleasure reading! This is the only book I got to read during this past semester:

This was about one of the girls (Cassie Bernall) that was shot at Columbine. The kid put the gun to her head and asked her if she believed in God. When she said yes, he shot and killed her. The book is by her mother with excerpts by her Dad, brother, and friends. Her mother explained that Cassie's life was not at all what her death seems to convey. Earlier in Cassie's life, she and a friend were themselves planning the death of one of their teachers. She wore black and skulls and hung out with friends who talked of little besides killing their parents. Then, prior to several important events, Cassie had a change of heart that also changed her life... a change that would later giver her the peace and strength to say "yes". 

~ ~ ~ 

Anyway, I got one of these after I finished my test today 

 

... a Burger King Mocha Frappe. Kaleb had a coupon for a free one a couple weeks ago and I picked up for him (testing on the way home!) They're quite delicious ... so got myself a "this semester is finally done" treat! Too bad it's not sunny and hot today because this drink would be perfect on a bright, sunny day...

So... I'm gonna go enjoy my frappe and one of my new books :) 

toodles!

Our Precious Girls!

See our sweet baby girls!!!

Zoey was 7 months old on the 14th and Ava turned 4 on the 8th . . . Growing up SO fast :)

Aren't they beautiful!?!

Ava is 4!

Happy Birthday, 4-year-old! 

We love you, Ava!!!

U.S. Navy Band in Concert

We went to an amazing concert in McHenry last night - by the United States Navy Band!!!!!!!  

(I did not take this picture. This is the official Navy Band Portrait from navyband.navy.mil)

McHenry was their last stop on their 25-day, 4000-mile 2012 national tour. 

I listen to classical music frequently and I especially enjoy the military-like marches of John Philip Sousa .... but it was TOTALLY different hearing the music live by one of America's most renowned bands! 

I believe they played about 15 songs - and they were all equally incredible but there are a few I remember better than others - particularly the ones with the vocalists and Armed Forces Parade, and the one with the soloist on the saxophone.

I didn't get good pictures because we sat kind of in the middle and to the side - plus I didn't have much room left on my memory card so I had to take really low definition pictures and videos. But these are a few of the ones I did get... 

This is the "Voice of the Navy", Chief Musician Courtney Williams (left, and below) and the conductor Captain Brian O. Walden (right, and right below).

 

Chief Musician Williams has the most incredible voice I have EVER heard. He started the program by saying a few things about the Navy but we couldn't see him and thought it was this amazing recording! Mom kept saying she didn't expect that voice out of that guy! All the feature musicians listed in the program have resumes a mile long and this guy was no exception. He sang at the memorial service of Rear Admiral Alan Shepard (the astronaut), and at the "National Day of Prayer and Remembrance" at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., and was the world-wide announcer for the 2008 presidential inauguration!

(This is a link to a page about Muc. Williamshttp://www.navyband.navy.mil/williams_courtney.shtml, and this is a link for a narration about the Navy (Presence with a Purpose) by him so you can hear his awesome voice. http://www.navyband.navy.mil/Sounds/Concert%20Band/williamsPresenceWithAPurpose.mp3

And we got to hear him sing the "Battle Hymn of the Republic"! I did video it but the program actually said videoing was prohibited without prior permission from the Navy - so I think I'd better not post it :( BUT!!! The following video is one of him that's already on youtube! The video begins with Williams singing the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and then goes to the "Armed Forces on Parade" and ends with a part of "Stars and Stripes Forever"! This is very much how it sounded last night. Also, Karissa had the idea that her and Kaitlyn, and I should wear our "Air Force Sister" shirts that we got last summer. So when he said "...if you or a member of you family have served, please stand proudly...", we all stood up for the Air Force's song and unzipped our jackets ... pretty proud moment (Your Always In Our Thoughts, Kent).

Doesn't that voice just send chills down your spine! ...made me shiver :) Of course, the recording cannot in any way compare to hearing it live ... but it helps keep the memory fresh!

 A few shots of the band from where we were sitting...not a great vantage point....

The Navy also invited one student from each area high school (about 5 I think) to participate in one song during the evening - that song being "Washington Post" by John Philip Sousa". After the song, the narrator (Muc. Williams) commended the students/musicians as well as their parents for the encouragement and support they provide their children. 

This lady here ^ was the female vocalist and she also had a spectacular voice. She had an incredibly clear and beautiful voice as well:) He name is Chief Musician Yolanda Pelzer. She's always had such an amazing voice that Ella Fitzgerald (the lady that could break a glass when she sang really high) invited her to sing on stage with her when Yolanda was FIVE! So she sang an Ella Fitzgerald song ("Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book" by Cole Porter) and a Rosemary Clooney (who was in "White Christmas" and also a famous singer) song - "Mambo Italiano" - and finally, "My Ship" from Lady in the Dark.

These are a few videos I found online with the U.S. Navy band - They are all songs that were performed live for us last night. These were all just performed this February (2012) in Bowie, Maryland under the direction of Commanding Officer Captain Brian O. Walden (who, as I said, was the conductor at the concert we attended last night - March 30).

This was the first song performed last evening: "Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld" by Jacques Offenbach.

"The Spirit of the U.S.N." was second, by Alton Augustus Adams who became the Navy's first African-American Bandmaster in 1917 and led the Navy Band of the Virgin Islands.

Later on, "The Glass Bead Game I" was performed with Musician 1st Class Jason Ayoub performing the French Horn solo. 

There was another song they played last night ("La Ronde des Lutins" by Antonio Bazzini) with Musician 1st Class Jonathan Yanik performing a saxophone solo... which was quite spectacular! 

The whole concert was amazing... 

... a delight,

... a THRILL!