Wedding, 4th of July, Birthday

I have been busy!  I thought that summer was for relaxing?!

Two weekends ago, I went to Pittsburgh to celebrate my best friend's wedding!  It was the first wedding (other than my own) that I was in!  And it was a blast!  L was also in my wedding:

L is all the way to the left

And she looked sooo beautiful in her wedding!  I can't wait to see her bridal portraits because they are going to be awesome.  She hired a fantastic photographer.

The bride getting her hair did the morning of her wedding!

My first French manicure!

The whole bridal party

Best Horn friends from WVU

Cutting the Cake

Then Josh and I drove to Cumberland where we spent the 4th of July with my family.  It was a good time.  We hung out, ate food, watched fireworks, and made S'mores.  Always a good time.

L and her new husband(!) followed us back from Cumberland on Tuesday to Salisbury where they stayed for the night and got to see our new house!

Wednesday was my birthday!  We woke up, L and I went on a run, we came back and the boys were making us breakfast, we ate breakfast and then all of the sudden I remembered it was my birthday!!!  yep, we all forgot.  So, they apologized, we hung out, ate lunch, and they had to leave.  I colored all day and watched my DVR shows from while I was in Pittsburgh.  Then Josh took my to my favorite sushi restaurant for my birthday dinner:

Look how happy I am!

Lately, Josh and I have been doing some projects around the house as we get the money (we are currently broke as a joke!).  I will update :-)

Update!

I go in phases when it comes to posting...  sorry for the delay :-)  I hope to return to my old habits!

I have been super-duper busy.  Two weekends ago, Josh and I met some great friends in Philadelphia for a WVU vs. Villanova basketball game.  The game was lame (not a basketball fan), but we went to a really nice seafood restaurant and did some downtown Philly things.  It was my first time to Philadelphia, so I was pretty excited.

Then we got back in time on Sunday to see the Superbowl, and I unfortunately preceded to get sick during the middle of it.  And I was sick throwing up for the 15 hours following that...  Needless to say, I didn't go to school Monday.

Tuesday I HAD to go because I had a program that day.  The program went great!  The 5th graders were excited to get the opportunity to play instruments on stage (they had never done that before!).  So all in all, I'm glad I went.  But it didn't feel too good.

This past weekend we went to York because I had an appointment to try on bridesmaids dresses for my friend's wedding this June.  I saw family and friends and it was a great trip, too :-)

Today is truly the first day that I have felt back to normal.  So I started back to my usual Monday routine at the gym.  WHOA.  OUCH.  That's what happens when you don't go in TEN days!

I'm going to go rest this off...

Mmmmm... apple pie.

I am currently enjoying a hot piece of apple pie.  My second of the night.  And I am pairing it with a nice glass of red wine.  Not sure if they go together or not... they do in my book :-)

I had a very loonnnnggg Monday and Tuesday at school and today after work I made dinner for josh and a new friend :-)  Jenny is the elementary music teacher in Josh's district and came over to talk lessons.  We had chicken carbonara, rice pilaf, and steamed broccoli... and homemade apple pie.

This past weekend we took a trip to Cumberland to visit my family.  Here are the details of the last few days:

Friday: Go to work early and teach all day.  Get off at 4pm.  Go home and pack the car.  Drive 5 hours to Cumberland.  Get there and bake a cake.  Go to bed.

Saturday: Wake up at 5:45am, pack the car, drive to Morgantown for the game.  Pick up my sister (yay!), tailgate, game, birthday for step-dad and brother-in-law, go to dinner with Josh's family, drive back to Cumberland by 9pm, have a campfire with grandma, go to bed around 12.

Sunday: Wake up, do laundry, have breakfast/lunch at mom's house, pack the car AGAIN, drive the 5 hours back to Salisbury, unpack, get ready for school on Monday.

Monday: Wake up as usual for school, get ready, get in the car and.... it won't start.  Dead battery.  Call a taxi.  Late for work.  Get there flustered.  Teach 10 classes.  Go home.  Go to the gym for a class.  Have dinner.  Go to the grocery store while Josh goes to get me a new battery.  His Check Engine Light lights up on the way.  Replace the battery. Go to bed.

Tuesday: Go to school. Teach a bunch of classes, come home, start dinner, have dinner, talk about school stuff, eat apple pie, drink wine, blog.  Tonight I will pass outtt.......


Goodnight, world :-)

It's Been Too Long!

Apparently I have been busy!  I haven't been on Blogger in over a week!  Here are the things that are going on in my life right now:
1.  Rita's is closing for the winter this Friday.  :-(
2. I am applying for grad school soon at the University of Illinois.  And I'm really excited.
3. My classroom is too loud because it is connected to the cafeteria.
4. I have been taking Tai Chi, Yoga, and Pilates classes at the gym.  I have always known that I love pilates.  Still true.  I have never taken yoga, but I am loving it despite falling over occasionally due to lack of balance.  Tai Chi is a whole new story.  I think I like it, but it is kind of weird for me.  We will see...
5. I am a mentor at my school to a 2nd grade boy who really needs a buddy.  He is like no other 7 year old I have ever seen before.  Already getting ISS on a regular basis!
6. I really like my job.  But it is SO exhausting.
7. I think Josh and I are planning on an addition to our family this coming summer... no baby... maybe dog?
8. We would also love to own a home.  Foreclosed homes are looking really nice right now.
9. We are going to a WVU this Saturday.  It is homecoming.  The alumni band is going to be there.  It is my step-dad's birthday.  And my brother-in-law's 21st birthday.  The people that we are going with: mom, step-dad, brother, other brother, sister, grandma, step-grandma, step-grandpa, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, and family friends: mom, dad, daughter, daughter's friend.  WOW.  I am so excited.



Rain, Rain, Go Away

It's been raining here for days.  And days.  And days.

Although yesterday was a beautiful day!  We took a trip up to Long Neck, DE to visit some friends who were in town.  We went to Rehobeth and shopped, went to lunch, and hang out.  We had great weather!  And we got to see some friends who we don't get to see too often (and their 6mo old baby!).  It was fun!

We went to the Dog Fish Head restaurant for lunch and it was SO good.  Some of the BEST food I have had in a long time.  And there were plenty of their brews to choose from!

I officially moved my classroom last week and it took FOREVER!  It was nuts.  Now my new room is spacious and great, except it is a huge MESS!  I am not used to being disorganized, but I haven't had time to clean it or organize it yet.  It's driving me nuts because I don't know where anything is.  They didn't give me any paid time after school to move or set up, so I decided that it would all be done during school.  And I refused to give up any instructional time.  So my kids are having music class among a disaster.  It drives me crazy and they don't even notice!  Oh well.

I have my first performance this Saturday.  I am taking a large number of kindergartners to a local fair/festival thing to perform.  The performance is based on our Arts Integration theme this year, which is "China".  They are doing an "authentic" Chinese ribbon dance.  It is very cute and I think the parents will like it.  We will see how it goes!

My Crippled Body, Heart, and Brain

Maria N. Thomas:

Josh and I have been so busy.  It is so exhausting. Our schedule for a few days:

Yesterday (Tuesday):  Went to work all day.  Came home and packed.  Left for Cumberland.  Spent the evening at my mom's.

Today (Wednesday):  Drove to Hagerstown, MD.  Had interviews for jobs that are not even posted.  Drove back to Cumberland.  Visited my (too young) grandfather who has lung cancer.  Drive back to Morgantown.  Had a meeting with my Home Group from church.  Came home.  Got a scary phone call about my family.  Booked a hotel for tomorrow.

Tomorrow (Thursday): Go to school and work all day.  Then drive to Salisbury, MD after school.  6-hour trip.  We will get there a little after 10pm.  Stay in a gross, cheap hotel.

Friday:  We both have interviews early in the morning.  Then we will drive the 6 hours back to Morgantown.

Saturday: Wake up and drive to Fairmont to babysit a 6-month-old and 20-month-old all day.  Drive home that night.

Sunday:  Sunday school teaching in the morning.  Then go to church.  Then drive to Pittsburgh to watch the PSO.  I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS CONCERT SINCE I WAS BORN.  **More about this below...  Drive home from Pittsburgh Sunday night.

Monday:  Go to work.  I have a phone interview Monday morning during my plan time for another job.  Then teach all day.

Tuesday:  Election Day.  No School.  PTFO. (Pass the eff out)

**Note about the PSO concert:  When I was a junior in college I took what was probably the most demanding class of my life.  But here's the thing:  after being in the class for about 10 weeks, I stopped caring.  So during my lecture time 3 days per week, I would sit at my desk and make lists.  I decided to make a Bucket List.  Nothing too ridiculous... I didn't want to climb the tallest mountain or jump out of an airplane or anything.  My list, after careful reflection over a period of a few weeks, only totaled about 25 things.  Two of these things were:  See the Sibelius Violin Concerto performed live.  See Shostakovich Five performed live.  A stipulation:  These will only count if they are performed by reputable orchestras with great conductors and horn sections.  This weekend, the Pittsburgh Symphony is playing a concert.  Here is the program:

Heinz Hall

Sunday, May 09, 2010 at 2:30 PM

Manfred Honeck, conductor

Hilary Hahn, violin

                                                                           

Sibelius: Violin Concerto

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5

I'm going to kill two birds with one stone!

--A side note:  my grandparents and my mom could use your prayers right now.  Send them our way, please!

60 Days!

Two months 'til our wedding.  Some thoughts that crossed my mind on this day:

• I am going to be a wife in two months.  I better learn how to fold clothes better.
• I wish my brother could be there.
• I love Zumba.  I absolutely love it.  I hope to be a Zumba instructor some day.
• I can't wait to start grad school. Wait... scratch that.  I can't wait to finish grad school.
• I hate cancer.
• I am currently eating dinner: rotisserie chicken and a glass of red wine.  Oh yes, and a dark chocolate truffle.
• I punished a student today for doing something that just wasn't safe.  He didn't hurt anyone, but he could have.  He was terribly upset, because he is normally a wonderful student.  I felt really bad, but I apologized and explained to him why I chose to give him the reminder.  After that, I think he understood.  But he still cried a lot.
• Josh and I both got interviews for Baltimore County!!! Woo-hoo.  But we can't go until June 9.  I was hoping to have a job by then! Oh, well.
• I love rain.  I used to hate it.  But lately I have been thankful for our rain.
• And another thing--I still hate bees.  But I am thankful for them.  And I am pleased to see them.  Then I run.
• I want (more than almost anything) to have my very own classroom.  I love my job at my school right now.  But I keep thinking of the wonderful things I can try with my students once I have the access to floor space and instruments.  Let's hope for that next year!
• And I am getting so fed up with this long hair.  I am literally getting it cut on the way to the airport to our honeymoon.
• We are going to Cozumel in 62 days!  A picture of our resort:

Oh, Oh, Oh, Woke Up Today...

We are going to Baltimore tomorrow!!!

Maria Loves Baltimore.

We are staying in The Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore Hotel.

We are going to a huge MD job fair Saturday morning.

Why do I love staying in hotels?  I don't know.  Maybe because there is a pool.

Wish us luck!

Birthday!

Josh and I have a busy week. And it's my Spring Break week. Ugh.

Josh's Birthday is tomorrow, but we are celebrating today :-) He is on his way home from work now. I have his birthday gifts on the living room floor waiting for him! I got him really nice manly heavy beer mugs. He really wants them! And both of Ron White's books. I didn't even know he wrote books... whatever. That's what the kid wanted.

Tomorrow Josh works all day, then we are going to Cumberland to get my wedding gown altered. WOO-HOO. Thursday we are going to meet with our pastor for our pre-marital class and then I am meeting with some friends and family to discuss bridal shower plans. THEN we have a meeting with the people form our reception hall to finalize plans.

Friday we have a second interview in Washington County!!!!!! I can't wait :-) I actually get really excited about interviewing now! Never thought I would say it.

Then we are headed to York for a few days to visit and watch the Mountaineers in the Final Four.

On Sunday, we are going to Cumberland for Easter with my family. Then back home... and my Spring break is over :-(

I can tell that time will fly fast. Boo-hoo.

But only 89 days til the wedding!

SPRING FEVER

An exciting couple of days for us!

Today, immediately after school (which will be in about 30 min), Josh and I are driving the 4 hours to York, PA for a job fair.

We should get there by 7:30 or 8. We are stopping by to see friends who are having a baby in about a week... so that's exciting. I can't wait to see the nursery!

Then we are headed to his parent's house for the evening.

In the morning, we are going to Millersville for a job fair. There are going to be about 30 counties and districts there that we are interested in. I can't wait to meet people! Which is SO unlike me. Ever since I have become a teacher I feel like I am so much more outgoing. Usually at places with lots of people, I sit around and wait for people to talk to me. NOW--I can't wait to go just so I can talk to people! Even if they don't have any job openings for us, I still really want to talk to people!

Hopefully we will meet some people and get those resumes out there!

Then we are making the trek about to Morgantown tomorrow evening. But we are stopping in Cumberland to watch the WVU game with my family.

We probably won't get back until 11pm or later... and then I have to go to school on Friday morning!

BUT... Don't worry. It will all be worth it. Because Friday at 3:45pm starts my spring break!!! 9 whole days of no school and no waking up early.

Now let's just pray for good weather :-)

Parties

This weekend Josh and I traveled to Cumberland to attend my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary party. We had no idea what we were in for. I knew that it was going to be planned well, but it was amazing! There were about 100 people there, beautiful candle centerpieces, a 3-tiered cake, waiters, great food, and tons more. Each of their 6 children gave a little speech, which was really nice. My dad catered the entire thing by himself! WOW-EE. They ended their evening by renewing their vows.

This morning we went with my cousin, Luci, to pick out a flower girl dress for her. She was so excited to buy a new dress. It is so beautiful, too. Poofy white dress with red flowers on it... soo cute.

Josh and I are going to a MICHAEL BUBLE concert in Pittsburgh in 3 days!!! We are so excited. It was our Christmas gift from Josh's parents... such a great idea. We are leaving after school on Wed. afternoon and seeing the concert that evening, which happens to be St. Patrick's Day. We probably won't get home until the middle of the night and I have to be at work on Thursday morning. Yeah, Thursday might be a rough day this week! But I am soooo excited to see him. He is one of my very favorite artists of all time.

This coming weekend I am finally having my jewelry party. I am really excited to do that and get some free jewelry! It is all so beautiful. I never used to be a fan of jewelry. I would find one necklace and one pair of simple earrings that I really liked and I would wear them everyday. Now I am excited every day to pick out jewelry to match my outfit! So I hope lots of people are able to come to the party.

Yes, that is the extent of our very exciting life.

Interviews, Virus, and Family... Oh my!

This weekend Josh and I went to Hagerstown, MD for screening interviews at a recruitment fair for Washington Co.  The interviews went really well.  We are hoping that this all turns into something nice.  It is the most ideal place for us to live and work, so we are really crossing our fingers on this one.  The next morning, we woke up to find that our picture was in the Hagerstown newspaper.  A photographer was taking photos while we were talking to the Fine Arts Supervisor!   How cool :-)

Then we went to visit my aunt and uncle (Laurie and Todd) and their two girls, McKinley and Caroline.  McKinley "Kinners" is 3 and Caroline is 14 mo.  They are both adorable and are lots of fun to play with.  It was nice to spend the weekend with their family.

Josh went to York on Saturday to pick out the tuxes for the wedding.  They seem pretty nice (even though I didn't see them).  That was another big step toward the end of wedding planning.  We are excited to be almost finished.  Less than 100 days left!

Well... Saturday evening, I had Chinese food for dinner with Todd and Laurie.  Soon afterward, I knew something was wrong.   We watched a movie and then I spent the better part of the night in the bathroom throwing up.  The WORST feeling EVER.  Josh picked me up the next day and we came back to Morgantown.  ...And the same thing happened to him last night.  Offffff course.

We are both working our way back to normal.  In the mean time, I am eating a lot of soup :-)

Cozumel... Here We Come!

Josh and I finally made a decision about our honeymoon.  We are going to an all-inclusive resort on the island of Cozumel, Mexico.  We can't wait!

Wedding and honeymoon are less than 4 months away now!

Job Hunting is a B*#@h!!!

What's the only thing harder than searching for one job???


...Searching for two jobs.

WANTED:  Two decent and permanent music jobs.  Preferably high school and elementary school.  Definitely in the same general location.  Somewhere in MD, VA, or PA would be nice.  As soon as possible would make me feel much better.

Why does every county, state, district, website have a different application process???  Just applying in general is a pain.  It takes FOREVER to do the same thing... over and over and over.

If I am ever president---first, there would be no war.  Second, there would be only ONE website for every single job description.  On that website would be the application and job postings.  If you are hiring for that job, anywhere in the US, you must post the job on that website and that website ONLY.  That way they know that everyone who is looking for them will see them, and everyone who is looking for that job will see it.  WHAT IS SO HARD ABOUT THAT?


Wow, I really needed to vent.

Home Again...

Josh and I just got home last night.  We spent the last five days in York for Josh's grandpa's funeral.

The funeral was really nice.  His whole family was able to come in from around the world to be together.  Josh and I each took a flower from the arrangement on his casket.  We are considering some special things to do with them. 

Back to the grind: making phone calls about wedding stuff, applying for more jobs, freaking out about not getting a job, cleaning, etc.

Luckily, most of the wedding stuff is done.  There are really only a small number of little things left to do.  I am excited to get everything done and get married!!!

Other than that, my life lately has been pretty uneventful.  Oh well.

MAHLER FOUR.

One of my favorite things ever.  I have a bias.  It was the very first symphony I ever played.

The time was June, 2008.  The place was Hot Springs, Arkansas.  I was alone.  It was one of the best trips of my life.

I auditioned for a music festival, The Hot Springs Music Festival.  The audition process is simple.  Record yourself playing excerpts and Mozart, send the tape in.  DONE.  Well, I was put on a waiting list.  Crap.

The best part about this specific music festival was that the tuition AND room & board were all free.  Rare find.

After hearing nothing for another few months, I figured that my chances weren't good.  So I got a summer job and was preparing for the long summer of practicing for my recital, which was scheduled for the fall. 

Well, the day before my job was to start, and the week before the festival started, I got a call.  They wanted me to come--a horn player canceled.  Normally, someone would might feel a little like second best.  But not me.  I checked my bank account, called my mom for some financial support (and she gave in) and booked a flight for five days out.

I had never flown alone before and had no idea what to do.  Luckily, my good friend, Lizz, drove me to Pittsburgh to catch my flight at 5am.  I was on two teeny tiny flights to get to Little Rock, Arkansas.  A scary man driving a van took me to Hot Springs--about an hour away. 

So, the water there really does come out of fountains in the streets and stuff.  And it really is naturally hot.  And you can drink it.  But who would want to drink hot water out of a fountain in the ground when it is already 110 degrees in the summer?  Not me. 

On top of that, we stayed in an old dormitory.  Gross.  Bugs.  Alone in my own room (thought I was getting a roomate).  Dirty shower and bathroom.  Hot.  Nothing to eat. Drink. Or do.

I had to walk over a mile to each rehearsal.  At first, alone.  After I met friends, with them.  With my horn on my back.  And my music.  And my stand.  In the heat.  In Arkansas.  In June.  Over a mile to the rehearsal, almost a mile to the nearest deli for lunch and back, more rehearsal, then over a mile back home that night.  To play a concert in the heat.  Every day.  I lost some weight while I was there. 

I was practically the only person there under 21, so I was left out of some festivities and was forced to instead... read.

Sounds terrible, huh?

Well, let me list the AMAZING things that happened to me.

1. I met, played with, and played for the horn teacher there, Lowell Greer.
2. I lost some weight and started the process of getting in shape (which I ultimately ruined that winter HAHA)
3. I met SO  many friends there---most of which I am still in some contact with!
4. I played with some really awesome musicians... some teachers and professionals, and some great students.
5. My horn section of seven was really cool--and I was the youngest :o)
6. I got to play the following pieces of music for the first time (in the TWO weeks I was there):

• Tchaikovsky, Cappriccio Italien
• Strauss, Also Sprach... representing Horn 6!
• A Haydn mass--which I got suckered into and ultimately loved.
• Mahler, Symphony #4--my first symphony ever.
• Many, many others.

7. I learned how to travel by myself--even though I had an ugly experience on the way home.
8. I really fell in love with playing the horn on that trip.

Tonight, Josh and I are going to Pittsburgh to see the PSO perform Mahler 4.  This will be my first time hearing it live.  SO EXCITED.  There is something about that symphony that makes me feel so good.

To Grandmother's House We Go!

The MR. and I are headed off to visit family today after I get off work.

We will stop in Cumberland and spend tonight there.  Tomorrow (XMAS Eve) he is headed to York.  We are spending the actual holiday apart, which we have been doing every year.  We thought it would be nice to have our first Christmas together be our first Christmas as husband and wife.  I will miss him, but I am so excited about the following year that I am actually very happy that we have made that choice. 

He will be back on the 26th for my grandmother's XMAS party.  We will leave together to go back to York, probably on the 28th.  This is where we will spend the next few days to celebrate New Year's at our "usual", a family friend of his parents... a very good time :-)

This sounds great on paper.  However, I am a homebody.  Once I move, I make a place my "home".  Even though it is a small, some-what crappy apartment that we live in, I am proud to say that it is officially our home.  And since it is so, leaving for over a week literally scares the living geezes out of me! 

I am leaving my car at "home".  I am trying to remember to unplug everything.  I am trying to remember not to forget anything... ESPECIALLY MY PILLOW (the only thing that could possibly comfort me on our journey).  I will hopefully turn the heat off... it's expensive enough while we are living in it.  I just remembered that I forgot to hold our mail. 

And the kicker... the worst feeling in the world (for me) is coming "home" from a trip to a DIRTY house.  But, unfortunately, I didn't have the time lately to actually clean it.  It is relatively spick and span, but there's something about coming "home", knowing that you finally get to relax on your break, have nothing to do, and walk in and see dirt on the carpet.  Or see ONE dirty cup that you left out the morning you left.

That's okay, though.  I love my family.  I love his family.  I love spending time with them and seeing everyone.  But "home" is where my heart is :-)