Sentimental

I don't know what it is about the holidays but they totally turn me into the biggest, most annoying sap ever. I'm not exaggerating when I say that it doesn't officially feel like the winter/Christmas time until I have a little cry for almost no reason.

Starting the day before Thanksgiving, I cried writing my friends' letters telling them how thankful I was for them.  I knew it was officially holiday time when that happened.  Granted, I probably would've still cried if I'd written them some other time, but still...irrelevant.  Now, ever cheesy Christmas-spirit-family-counts moment makes me tear up like a pregnant woman being forced away from her pickle juice and ice cream.

Then today, for the first time, I cried listening to Josh's "I'll Be Home For Christmas."  I don't know why it hadn't gotten to me until now.  I mean, how many times have I listened to it?  At least 20 times a year since 2007...80?  At least.

Finally, tonight as I was surfing the 'net and looking at some forgotten Grobanite pages on LiveJournal, I came across a link to an additional bonus track off Illuminations.  I'd seen Ellen talk about it on Twitter with (jg)Sarah but for some reason I hadn't the need to find it ASAP.  I thought I was losing my Grobanity...and I was, until now.

Ladies, I give you another song that made me cry.  It's a cover of a song I'd loved since senior year of high school.  It made me cry when I first heard it and again just a minute ago when I heard Josh's version of it.  Especially since it's totally the thought I think when I'm around a certain someone.  :)

"Feels Like Home"  -  Josh Groban   <-- Click me!

Enjoy!

Keren

Thankful

As I mentioned on Twitter, this year for Thanksgiving I'm doing something I've never done before: I'm writing letters to my 3 closest friends about what I'm thankful for this year.  I'm not the first person to openly say who or what I'm thankful for but I think if anyone is going to know, it might as well be your closest friends.

When we were little, we'd have Thanksgiving dinner with my whole family.  We don't have a big family but we would always get together, all of us- be it steps, halves, good friends, whatever.  Family isn't only a blood line.  Anyway, just before we dug into our meals, we'd go around the table and say what we were thankful for.  Being younger and not really understanding why it was we did that, I was always dreading the moment it was my turn.  I wanted to say something quick and to the point but without going on and on and on like the adults did.  They were so boring and uncool to me back then.  Plus, since I've always been quiet and not very touchy-feely when it came to this stuff, it was just uncomfortable.

As my sisters and I got older, for some reason, this tradition was forgotten.  The last time I remember having a Thanksgiving dinner after saying what we were all thankful for was when I was about ten, which is unfortunate; I was finally old enough to know why we did that but I didn't have a chance anymore.  Sure, I could've just said it anyway but I didn't. (Now watch...now that I'm blogging about it, we'll probably do it this year.  Haha!)

So, I thought I'd write a few little mini letters here for those of you who wouldn't exactly benefit from snail mail so close to Thanksgiving.

Malorie, you were officially my first good online friend, good enough to trust my life with for two weeks that first summer I visited.  You have no idea how refreshing it was to have someone who thought almost exactly like me and had almost everything in common with.  I never thought I'd ever meet someone like that but I guess I was proven wrong.  God totally has a sense of humor.  I thank Him for you and your parents.  I can honestly say I'm a better person for knowing you.

KAren, I'll never know what made you want to host five other crazy fangirls.  And even more, I'll never know what made your husband agree to it.  It's been amazing knowing you and being able to get sane motherly advice from someone other than my own mother.  I'm so grateful for knowing you and getting to meet your family these past two summers.  Like Malorie and the other girls, I don't know what I would've done without knowing you all.

Kim, you're amazing.  I'm so blessed to have met and gotten to know you.  Like KAren, your sage, motherly advice never ceases to amaze me- and I'm so, so, soooo thankful for it.  You have no idea.  Because of you, I've gotten the guts to do some things I only considered doing.  Thank you!

Linda, BABE!  Knowing you is like looking into my future...only you're waaaaay more creative than I'll ever be.  You're amazing.  I'm grateful for knowing you and for our boy conversations.  You're the big sister I never had but always wanted. <3

Sparkles, you always make me happy.  Even on the days I didn't know I was feeling down, you always found a way to make me feel better.  Your constant sunshine is something that is totally you and also something I'm thankful for.  The Lord blessed me when he let your sparkles into my life.

Ellen, what would I have to look forward to if we didn't have our plan to be in a nursing home together, constantly having fun throwing tennis balls at each other?  I'm so happy I met you, even if it's never been in person.  You're seriously one of the most clever people I've met and I'm honestly happy to be exposed to such genius...as well as the great person you are.  Thanks for not giving up on this loser.  :P

Angelica, I don't know if I'd be sane without our back and forth messaging on Facebook.  Just so you know, you're one of the few people who actually gets all the nitty-gritty details.  I'm so thankful for your encouragement on the days I thought I'd pull out my hair before entering my mid twenties.

With that, my ladies, I shall depart with some words we all know and love.

Some days we forget

To look around us

Some days we can't see

The joy that surrounds us

So caught up inside ourselves

We take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for

What we know can be.

And on this day we hope for

What we still can't see.

It's up to us to be the change

And even though we all can still do more

There's so much to be thankful for.

Keren

An Apology

I totally meant to blog this weekend.  I just couldn't.  Literally couldn't.

Sick. As. A. Dog.

Friday, I woke up with a sore throat, as I had the day before, but I thought nothing of it.  Until I got to school and I suddenly couldn't talk.  I knew one thing for sure: I had caught a cold- not the usual cold, the kind that leaves you speechless.

The friday before, I had spent about 12 hours with a friend who had basically no voice and wasn't able to stop his nose from running.  Hot, right?  Yeah, well, a week had gone by and it had finally hit me.  Probably worse than it had hit him.

I was glad of one thing, though: the concert was over.  And then something else hit me: I had a presentation to do that day and I had no voice.  Next week it was (it's a once-a-week class)!  So I quickly sent my friend a text: "Hey, thanks for putting my presentation off for a week!"  He responded with "Ha, why?"  "Caught your cold, lost my voice.  :)  "  Not that I was excited to be sick; I just don't like being one of the first people to present...anything.

So I went home, silently broke the news to my family that I was mute and literally did nothing since.  Apparently I "looked like death" yesterday.  That's always a great compliment, you know?

I'm so boring.  I apologize.

I need stories to tell.

Keren

Let Me Be The Music

Day 1 after concert.

Our director immediately came out of her office and greeted us saying, "My babies!"  She's a little woman, but strong, intimidating but motherly nonetheless.  Of course, we're only her babies when we've made her proud.

She went on to tell us about the compliments she received after the concert yesterday- from the chairwoman of the music department of the university, different vocal teachers at school, high school choir directors and even her husband- a retired band director.  She was gushing.  And then it came- the critiques.

We all knew it wasn't perfect but very good for being able to 95% of our rep this early in the year.  The real work will start Wednesday, polishing and perfecting what we do know and learning the other 5% before the big performance in February.

She had us take out a piece we'd never covered before, what will be our closer for the aforementioned February performance at the Texas Music Educators Association convention.

The title alone gave me chills.  I just didn't expect to get so emotional while listening to the piano part and reading the text.  I can say already that it's the perfect closer for us.  We've worked hard, very hard.  And while it's nice to get the recognition of being one of the best university choirs in the state (and possibly the country), we don't do it for the title.  We do what we do for the love of music making.



Seasons come and seasons go
And somehow they we meant to show that life and love are never really gone.
So when my journey is through
I'm certain there is just a new hello
And so when I travel on,
Let me be the music
Let me be the music of love I have known
Let me be the melodies in the wind and the trees that sing to the lost and alone
Let me be the sweetest refrain in the sound of the rain or a rippling stream
Let me be the lullabies that close the eyes of children when they dream
For music has now walls or bars
It bridges time and space
It only asks the senses to surrender
It sweeps is to the stars and makes us one in it embrace
It has no fences
It has no gender
So let me be the music
The beautiful music of love
Let me be the voices of spring that rejoice in the things that blossom and grow
Oh let me be the music to come again as music
The beautiful music of love
The beautiful music of love when I go
Oh let me be the music when I go
When I go




Keren

StING 'EM!

Today was November 14, 2010- the day I'd been waiting for since the beginning of the semester, day of the UTB Master Chorale's debut concert of the year and our debut in the new performing arts center.

I knew it was going to be a big deal but I didn't know I'd be so nervous and uneasy before the concert.  Our warm-ups today weren't going well and people wouldn't get focused.  Girls didn't come with their makeup or hair done and I had to run around helping those unfortunate souls.  To top it off, the boy couldn't sing but five notes.  Poor boy mouthed more than half the concert.

Also, it was the first time a lot of people saw my hair post-blonde.  Granted, it was up so some people didn't even notice but even still.  I was excited to see any reaction.  I'm weird like that.

Anyway, the concert started a bit rough but I doubt the audience noticed since they didn't have the sheet music in front of them.  I think our director messed up the conducting a little, so it threw people off.  But once we got going, we got better.  We only performed eight out of the eleven songs we have in our rep. so it was a little short on time but it didn't lack quality, that's for sure.  Once we were done, people in the audience were gushing with compliments, including some of my high school directors- which always makes me feel like I've made them proud.  :)

So here are some pics of my hair and makeup.  Not that I'm conceited or anything.  :P  I was just really proud both since I was sorta in a hurry.

Videos/audios/of the performances are to come!

Pic(s) for now:

(This isn't even the whole choir. Part of the left side is cut out.  I wasn't able to fit the whole choir into one pic.)

Keren

Grobanity Resurfaces

Just a quickie since I came home to a surprise just now.  After a long day of English grammar and a test in my Conflict Management class, it was suddenly all worth it.  Yes, the Grobanity is resurfacing within.

A while back, I participated in a chat on the JG boards (not FOJG) and got a prize for answering possibly THE easiest question: "Who produced Josh's new album?"  Me: "Rick Rubn" ...  "Rick Rubi" ..."darn it! RICK RUBIN!"

I don't know how I typed all that and still beat the other girls in the chat room, but I did.

It's not the official album cover but I kind of like that.  Might end up being a collector's item!  :P

It also came with a little something extra.  I thought it was a nice little touch from Sarah (jgsarah).

Keren

In My Khaki Pants

Today was what we call "High School Day" at UTB.  Kids from high schools in Brownsville and surrounding cities come to the university to tour and basically have an orientation.  But on top of that, we showcase our performing arts groups: band (UTB Wind Ensemble), the jazz band, the mariachi group (Mariachi Escorpion), the drum line, the strings symphony, the guitar ensemble and of course, the choir- also known as the UTB Master Chorale.  So, obviously, we/I had to be at school extra early...well, earlier than our regular Monday/Wednesday rehearsal.

My day basically started at 12:00 AM.  Joyce was over and we'd just finished watching this week's Glee for the 100,000,000th time (talk about a jaw-dropper!)  I was getting ready for bed, knowing I was going to have to be awake at 7 AM to be ready to leave the house at 9.  Have I ever mentioned how I HATE getting up early??  I'm just not a morning person.  Anyway, at 4 AM, I wake up and- still half asleep- turn on my light and get ready for a shower.  As I'm about to leave my room, I realize it's waaaaaaaaaay too early to be showering.  3 more hours.  YES!

Finally, when I really DO have to wake up, I'm sleepier than I was at 4. This is why I hate mornings.  I do my thing to get ready.  Hair? Meh, it's been better.  Makeup?  Duh..awesome! :P  Clothes?  EEW!

I understand and know full well that from an audience member's perspective, our uniforms looks great.  But wearing them?  Now that's a whole other cow to fry.  First off, it reminds me of my uniform from my private school days: a light blue Oxford shirt and khaki pants.  Being me: difficult, of course there's gonna be SOME kind of problem.  I've always had problems finding pants that fit right as my waist is not proportionate to my thighs/legs.  The upper thigh area, especially in the back, is ALWAYS baggy...to the point where it looks like I'm wearing a saggy diaper.

(Me in the "official casual uniform: UTB Master Chorale blue Oxford shirt, khakis, brown belt, close toed brown shoes, and hair off the face/shoulders for girls.  Yes, I'm well aware I look like a boy.)

I couldn't find any new, better-fitting, khakis this past week, so I went with the ones I've only worn a few times...the diaper ones.  I washed them to see if they'd shrink and they did but only stayed like that for a while.  FAIL.

The one thing I do like about the uniform is wearing a shirt that proudly states I'm part of a prestigious ensemble.  I feel like it's almost coveted, the shirt alone; never mind a place in the chorale.

So once I got to school, kids were already getting off buses and going into the Arts Center.  They stared at me as if they'd never seen anyone in khakis before.  Oh, children.  I went up to the choir room, we warmed up and almost immediately were called down to the stage for the performance.

By this time, my feet were already killing me with those darn shoes I bought for this event last year.  I remembered then why I don't wear them on a regular basis.  I was tempted to insert a picture of my blisters but I shall spare thee.

I knew my dad was around and wanted to see our performance but I couldn't see with the stage lights.  So I just gave it my best anyway- as did everyone else- and we did pretty well for having not sung on that stage as a group...ever.  I prayed we'd be okay since we'd been having some pretty big tuning issues.

After, about half the choir and I went across the street where they were serving lunch for the HS kids and we helped serve pizza- 2 or 3 slices to a plate.  We joked that the kids that got 3 huge pieces were "super deluxe lunchers."

Once the kids were served, we ate and returned to the choir room for our regular rehearsal.  Only we had guests: directors from all over the area.  "Great, now we can't suck for sure!" one of my friends said.

Keren

Fried Rice With Cherries On Top

Alright, I'm finally back.  If you were/had been wondering about my last blog and why I stopped writing or why it "disappeared," it's just because of some people reading it...people I'd rather not read it.  So THIS one will be open to everyone and anyone who wants to peer into the world of Keren.  Not that's it's extra exciting or anything, but still.  Haha!

So here's my first EXCITING post.  Sort of my day.  After choir, my sister, Joyce and I went to Harlingen- a city about 30 minutes from Brownsville to eat at one of our favorite restaurants- Kahn's Mongolian Grill- and do some light shopping at Forever 21.  Well, Ana ended up dropping some serious bucks (refund check from her scholarship) and I spent a whopping $15!

So at this place, Kahn's, you serve your veggies in a big bowl, your meats in a smaller bowl and then add whatever seasonings you want.  Everything is raw but it's cooked right in front of you.  For some reason, today, I was extra grossed out by the raw meat.  Eew.

Above is my bowl of noodles and veggies on the left and Joyce's on the right.  Can you tell she was raised with only brothers and has LOTS of guy friends??  Haha..love you, Joyceee!

This is the "finished product"...aka, my plate.  It's served with fried or steamed rice and a little thingy of bread.  SOOOOOOO GOOD!!

Then off we went to Forever 21, where I found my first pair of leggings and a really cute sweater top that covered my booty and poonan.  Both were on clearance so I just HAD to snatch them up.

Now, I know I'm probably gonna get someone saying, "You can't wear leggings as pants, you just can't!" but I'm gonna...mwahahahahahahhaaa!  If you feel like wearing something, even if it looks wonky to someone else, do it, I say.  There is NO such thing as the Fashion Police in real life, so chill out, peeps!  (Okay, I know I shouldn't be talking, considering all the people-watching and mental makeovers I do but this really isn't that bad.)

Now here's a Monday I can get used to!

Keren