Well, I’ve been getting some flack as of late for not updating this often enough. Really, it’s hard to find appropriate topics to write about here since it’s public and because of my job, etc. However, I will try to be better about updating.

Ok, so let’s see…What has happened in the life of me?

-I got a new job for the school year. Contract, better pay, better benefits- all around it’s a good deal. I’m just nervous to start.
-Worked at camp again this summer. Became really close with two of my co-workers which made work really fun. I also had the best group of counselors I have ever had, so that made things even more enjoyable.
-I was in two shows over the summer. Both were really fun. One was with BRT and the other was with SCP. It was nice to do some shows where I had a significant part. I think I am really coming into my own with theater. I’m actually about to audition for another show next week. I’m hoping to get a good role- wish me luck!

Well…As short as that was, that’s about all the news that’s fit to print here. More to come as things unfold!

1. Student Loans- and their hindrance on purchasing a home.

2. Federal Income Taxes- and the fact that this year we OWE instead of getting the refund we could have REALLY used. Why must the middle class always get screwed?

3. The Medical World- and the lack of answers.

4. Waiting- for answers that are seemingly never coming.

5. Winter- I gain weight like a bear before hibernation, my skin becomes transparent, and I generally feel “blah”.

The FDA announced today that they have approved meat and milk from cloned animals for human consumption. For starters, the FDA does not appear to have a great track record when it comes to approving products. How many times in the past few years have we seen the FDA recall or retract its approvals of things they had once claimed were safe for human consumption? Arthritis and heart medications come to mind foremost. It seems the FDA is too quick to pass approval on what is safe for humans without conclusive, long-term studies to back them up. In my opinion, long-term should mean years, not months of tests, especially when it comes to cloned animals. The technology is still new. We have not had time to determine what the implications of cloning are, much less the implications of consuming something that is cloned. Who knows, maybe it is perfectly safe. Maybe it will spawn a new strain of health problems for humans. I personally am not going to take any chances…From now on, I eat organic.

Christmas was great, although very busy for us. We went to Ben’s grandparent’s in town, my mom’s, Ben’s mom’s, and Ben’s grandparent’s in Dover, all in the course of two days. On top of that we were at the Patriot’s game the day before all of our travels and had Christmas with my dad while we were there. By the end of it all I was completely exhausted, and admittedly, somewhat grumpy because I just wanted to sit on my couch and do nothing.

Gifts of particular interest are as follows:
-tickets to see “Curtains” starring David Hyde Pierce on Broadway
-Silent Brass system for my French horn
-beautiful wood music stand & selections of music
-Guitar Hero III for the Wii
-$250 in gift certificates to several different restaurants

In other news: I spoke with a mortgage broker today. She took our information and will put together a file for us of options we can look into. We should hear back on Monday. Ben and I are hoping to buy a house in the next couple of months. It would be nice if we could work it out so that it coincided with the end of our lease.

Also, everybody cheer for the Patriots tomorrow as they prepare to finish the regular season undefeated!

A random list of musicals I love (in no particular order):
-Phantom of the Opera
-Wicked
-Les Miserables
-RENT
-Legally Blonde: The Musical
-Movin’ Out
-Gypsy
-The Producers
-Rocky Horror Picture Show
-Hedwig and the Angry Inch
-Fiddler on the Roof
-Godspell

I think in my next life I’ll come back as a Broadway star…

Today my mom, brother, and I made the trek down to Boston to buy new musical instruments. My brother, who is a music major in college, was in need of his own baritone saxophone. As for myself, I have been in need of a French horn upgrade for quite some time. I was fortunate enough in high school to be able to play the very nice professional model owned by the school’s music department. However, since then I have been left with a ridiculously sub-par Yamaha single horn student model that I learned on in middle school. When we arrived at the music store I was outfitted with a personal practice room and five different models of intermediate and professional double French horns to try out. I have to admit I was nervous about playing because it’s not something I’ve done regularly for about six years (due mainly to not having an adequate instrument) and I was not sure how my lip and tone quality has held up. I actually surprised myself and played exceptionally well under the circumstances. I tried out two Yamaha models, which I did not like at all. They had poor tone quality and valve action. I also tried a new Conn 8D, a used Conn 8D, and a new Conn 10D. I had heard extremely good things about the Conn series, especially the 8D, so I was excited to try them out. I liked the tone quality of the 8D, but was not as thrilled with the valve action- it was not as fluid as I would have liked. I absolutely loved the 10D. It had great tone quality and I was amazed at how easily and smoothly it transitioned to the upper register. It also had very smooth and quiet valves, which made for very even and seamless playing. I ultimately decided on the 10D. I am very happy with my choice of instrument and look forward to playing it for years to come. An enormous thank you goes out to my mother and grandmother for my beautiful new instrument.

My wonderful husband purchased my very own domain name for me for my birthday this past week. I have to say I was a bit skeptical about this whole idea. You see, I’m a teacher, and being in such a profession I have to be very careful about how I represent myself, both in school and in public. So, I’m taking a big leap here by having my thoughts broadcast to the entire world and I’ve decided that this will not be a play-by-play, investigative look into my life, but rather a place for me to share my general ideas. I suppose it will mostly consist of pictures and stories of and about my cats, as well as musical and theater ventures I am involved in. Yes, I am a cat-owning band/theater geek. I will save my more personal insights for MySpace, where my profile remains private and you must know me personally to be my friend. So, to the first of what may become numerous, generic entries…

Happy Birthday Katie I built this just for you.