What phrase best describes you?

It is that special time of year when we start to celebrate the holidays. I was thinking to myself how interesting religion is and how all Americans come from different, various religious backgrounds and walks of life. Religion, to me, is a strange concept that I don't think many of us will ever fully understand. During the winter season, Merry Christmas, is the phrase that best describes me. I am a Christian. For others, it may be Hanukkah, Kwanza, or simply and universally well-known, a "Happy Holidays." SO, whatever your following, Have a Happy, Blessed, Merry, and Wonderful Holiday this year. I will see you all again on January 4th!

FREEDOM>>> <3

I took my last final at 8:00 a.m. this morning and I just know that I passed it with flying colors. But before I took that final, I was up at 4:00 a.m. finishing a paper that was due for the same class. Luckily, I got it done on time. Unfortunately, I probably didn't include as many detailed sources as I should have. Oh well. That is the life of a college student for you. Up late, early in the morning, always behind schedule. Thank goodness for winter break and time to relax. I am going to treat my body to much needed healing through rest, working out, and DIETING......after New Year's of course. : P

Have a Happy Holidays everyone! May the joy of the season bless you and yours!!

One More Day!

I only have one more day of school for the Fall 2009 Semester. I still have a paper to write and a final tomorrow and then at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, I will officially be on winter break! Some of my plans over the next few weeks include hanging with friends and family, catching up on Christmas Shopping, and ultimately, relaxing. Also, as mentioned before, my friend Van Bui and I are going to get together and watch movies to catch up on our musical theatre repertoire. It will be a much needed break. I will let you know tomorrow how my final went and what my plans are for that evening because I will want to go out and I'm sure there will be something going on since most students will be on break. Peace out bloggers and Talk to you SOON!!! Wish me luck on that last final.....I will need it!

'Tis the Season......

.........To be jolly. Fa la la la la, la la la la!! And for drinking hot tea! I love to drink hot tea during the warm winter months. Lately, I have been on a TAZO Brand tea kick, but right now, I like the classic Earl Grey flavor. My friend, Alyssa, suggested "Raspberry Passion" flavor by TAZO. If you haven't tried this flavor, you need to! It tastes so good. She says she drinks it cold during the summer months and mixes it with lemonade. But for now, drinking warm tea is the thing do to do for the cold season. Something about the warm, hot water makes me feel all warm and cozy inside. TAZO Brand tea can be found at any Starbucks location and I believe, Target. TAZO is also served in the Rhatigan Student Center on WSU campus for less than a dollar. Now, all we need is some snow!!

SAS Formal

Last Saturday night was the 2009 Student Amabassador Society Winter Formal. This year was a special year in SAS history because it was the 15th Anniversary of the orginization. Several alumni of the group attended the event and a video slideshow was played to share memories over the past year. It was a lot of fun because we danced the night away and ate a ton of food. Plus, it was nice to meet the charter members of the group and see old friends that had graduated only two years ago from Wichita State. It was a perfect night to relax right before finals. Now, today, I have one final to take. Not looking forward to it, but at least my mind is clear and refreshed from formal! Peace out fellow bloggers!

Finals are Next Week

I am so excited for finals next week! WHY?? Because it is the last week of school and plus it is the time to prove to your teachers that you actually know and are able to retain the information they have taught you. I have a total of five finals, one of which I already took and the rest which will be just as difficult. I am especially not looking forward to my music theory final, where we have to read music, build triads, and invert chords as well as notate key signatures and types of cadences. My friend Van Bui and I are going to get together and study. She is hilarious! And after we take our final, we are getting together and watching some of the greatest musicals in musical theatre history to expand our performing and repertoire knowledge. Thank goodness that I actually like school and enjoy what I am studying......just hope I can make a career out of it. Talk to you on Sunday after the SAS Formal! I am looking forward to that much needed break right before these finals start next week!

Last Week of School

Okay folks. This is the last week of school for the Fall Semester of 2009 and what a whirlwind it has been. I still need to finish my paper that is due this Thursday and catch up on a couple of things, but luckily I stayed on the ball for the whole semester and don't feel too behind. I am very much excited for the spring semester. Recently, I was elected Student Ambassador Society President and am very excited to get things rolling for the coming year. I have auditions for next year's musicals as well. Wish me luck! I feel prepared for those as well. I have my outfit picked out, songs to sing and a monologue that screams, "CAST ME!" I will keep you posted on how things are going with auditions and school. I know I will be ready for SAS Formal come Saturday evening. It will be a great way to cut loose right before the start of finals! CIAO!

Its a Love Story.....YEAH.......

Taylor Swift will be coming to Wichita soon and it is already sold out. Tickets for second row in the new arena went for $5,000 each. FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS?? Really? That is way too expensive, but if you are an eight time Grammy nominated artist, then it might be well worth attending. It is very exciting that she will be coming to Wichita but what an expensive prive to charge for tickets. I guess when you write huge hits like Love Story and Tear drops on My Guitar you can do about anything you want.

Education

Have you ever noticed how important it is to get a good education? I have seen the benefits of what a well-rounded education can offer me, especially an undergraduate, college degree from Wichita State. There are many benefits from attending Wichita State University. First, a great collegiate atmosphere. Many students are seen on campus studying diligently and wearing Shocker colors. Secondly, a great faculty and staff. Typically, the teacher to student ratio is 18 to 1 which then enhances the idea that you are receiving adequate attention. Finally, what better way to recieve a great education than within the limits of a metroplitian city. By studying in the city, you can see what it is like to eventually live out the career of your dreams by being apart of the Cooperative Educational and Work-Based Learning Program. As one can see, the possibilities of attending WSU are tremendously endless.

Elections

We are in full swing of elections on campus for student organizations. Tonight, at our weekly fraternity meeting, people are running for positions in our house. The following evening, we have Student Ambassador Society elections. And elections couldn't have fallen at a more busier time. I wish all the candidates best of luck in running for the positions and when they are elected, I wish them even more luck because all of them are difficult positions to hold. Though elections have fallen at a crazy time, they are still a fun process to witness. It is always exciting to have fresh, elected faces in the offices. So tonight and tomorrow night, join me in wishing best of luck to those running for office on campus.

Break is Over....

I have been incredibly lazy over break. I haven't done any of my homework and now I am feeling overwhelmed. I have an eight page paper due in two weeks, that I haven't even started, SAS Formal planning to do over the next two weeks, including making a video for it, I have auditions for the spring semester musicals in two weeks and musical theatre juries to test our progress thus far, also in two weeks. AND two weeks till finals! Everything seems to be in due in two weeks. I also find out in two weeks if I will be having surgery over winter break. Oh well, I better get to work now and get things done before Monday morning rolls around and I am behind....Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Break! And again, feel free to post on my blog if you have any questions about Wichita State. Bye All!

Christmas Time is Here...

That famous tune from "The Charlie Brown Christmas Special" played in my brain endlessly as I cruised up and down the aisles looking for the bargains of the season at the mall. Unfortunately, there was none. Not a single good sale. But the nicest thing was to people watch. I watched all the families shopping and thought how much I love the holidays and spending time with my own family. Yesterday we put up our Christmas trees at our house and that was way more fun then shopping. It was nice to catch up with family by putting out decorations that simply take your breathe away. I love our house when it is decorated for Christmas and I especially love being home for the holidays.

Thankgiving Break

Today starts Thanksgiving Break! I am so excited! Free of classes for about three days! And I need it....tomorrow I am putting up our Christmas lights and helping my mom get things ready for Thanksgiving. This week will surely be a time for family. Also, my mom and I are taking my grandma to the doctor tomorrow for her check-up and spending time with her. It feels like yesterday when we used to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas over at my grandma's house. Man, how time flies! But I am thankful this Thanksgiving that she is still in excellent health. I am also thankful for my family and that despite the rough times in America, we still have fun and can enjoy the time that we have together.....I will talk to you all tomorrow and let you know how things are going over break. Should be a relaxing one....

Hello......this is your Cell-Phone Calling......

I found my cell-phone! I didn't blog about losing it because I'm sure it would have turned up! And it did! I am so excited because now I don't have to go out and purchase a new phone. When I lost it, I was looking into buying a new one. In this economy, cell phones start around $250. What college student has that kind of money to go and buy a new phone at that price? Not this one. So, if you have my number....call me up and catch up.......and we can plan on seeing each other over Thanksgiving Break!

One down, one to go!

Hey all.....I am sure you are all asleep, but I just got done with a huge English paper and I am super soaked that it is completed. This freshly printed, nine-page piece of pure glory is ready to be handed in tomorrow morning at 9:30a.m. Now that this paper is out of the way, only one more remains--my research paper for History of Musical Theatre which will be due on Dec. 10th. Luckily, I will have Thanksgiving Break to work on it and hopefully, finish the paper. Then, it will be smooth sailing from here on out to the end of the semester! Aight, I'm TIRED! Time to get some rest! Talk to you all tomorrow.......

WHERE AM I?

We are a little over a week from Thanksgiving and things seem to be getting hectic in every student's life here at Wichita State. This is the time of the school year when teachers assign papers and final projects right before finals, and when extra curricular activities seem to be in full swing. Today, I mailed 260 invitations to Student Ambassador Society alums for our SAS 15th Anniversary Formal. It is also the time of the year when one needs to catch up on Holiday Shopping and spending time with family and friends. By the end of the week, I find myself asking the question, "Where am I?" I get so frazzled in trying to make sure I got everything done for the day and homework is ready to be turned in for tomorrow that I lose track of where my own head is. Will one ever be truly caught up in this fast paced world we live in? I guess I will just have to wait and ask Santa that question come December. If he says no, then I will just ask for sticky notes for Christmas so I can remember everything that I need to get done.

Glee

Have you guys seen this new hit television show Glee?? I never watch television but now my Wednesday nights are clear to watch this new television phenomenon that is sweeping the nation. The one-hour series follows an optimistic high school teacher as he tries to transform the school's Glee Club and inspire a group of ragtag performers to make it to the biggest competition of them all: Nationals. It has clever writing and show-stopping musical numbers that leave the viewer speechless and wanting more. I have downloaded all the songs the cast has sung thus far and can't wait to see what they are going to pull off next. Just this last week, they had a MALE singer singing a Defying Gravity, a song clearly written for a female belter. If you get a chance, watch Glee and tune into this musical comedy television show that will leave you hooked!

Get on the PARTY BUS!!

IT'S FRIDAY!!!!!!!!

This weekend, I will get to attend the FIRST MEN's BASKETBALL GAME of the season AND I get to go on a Party Bus to the actual game. I am so excited to get on the Party Bus. Those things are so much fun and everyone always seems to have a great time. I am putting together the song list to be played on the bus right now. Usually after a WSU victory, we dance the night away on the bus! It gets crazy cause you are trying to dance while the bus is in motion and people can never stand on their own two feet. It is a true to sight to see!! I can't wait.....I will let you know how it goes on Monday! Have a good weekend everyone and stay classy!!

Philanthropy Food

As the end of the semester draws near, many Greek Houses on campus are hosting food fundraisers as part of their philanthropic commitment to helping the community. Last weekend, I attended the spaghetti feed for Phi Delta Theta and later this evening, I plan on attending Alpha Phi's Alpha Phiesta. This is an all you can eat taco feed for their charity. I love Mexican food and can not wait to pig out! SO, if you are in a Greek House at WSU, get out and support fellow houses on campus and get to eating!! It's good practice for Thanksgiving in two weeks.

Shocker Men's Basketball

This past weekend, the Shocker Men's Basketball had an opening ehixbition game in Charles Koch Arena! I was so upset that I didn't get a chance to attend the opening exhibition game but I hear that it was a great practice to the start of the season. We won 81 to 69 against the Newman University Jets. This Sunday November 15th will be the start of the season at 3:05pm when the Shockers play against Fairleigh Dickinson. I hope to see you all there in the stands supporting Shocker Men's Basketball. I am going to try and be up front with the fraternity brothers. So get out and experience the exitcitement that is SHOCKER MEN'S BASKETBALL!! GO SHOX!!

All the leaves are brown.........

Good afternoon! This weather is stunningly gorgeous! For those of you not from the area, Wichita usually has nice weather year round that is certainly appropriate to the season and today is no exception. I think this evening I will go on a run in my neighborhood and soak in all of the wonderful autumn colors. I am also finally getting out the sweaters and 'fall' apparel to wear. Autumn is just one of my favorite seasons. Also, I am enjoying delicious fall foods like chilli, soup, stuffing, green beans, and mashed potatoes. OH YES! I am eating this stuff WAY before Thanksgiving. So whether you are outside in Wichita or in my kitchen, it is sure to be a true seasonal treat!

Home Stretch

Happy November everyone!! I can't believe that it is day two of the month of Thanks! This semester has flown by and is rapidly coming to an end. This semester so far has just been absolutely nuts! Does anyone else feel this way? I hate to say this, but school has been quite the struggle for me this year....classes keep getting harder but I enjoy them greatly. Oh well........just hope I can keep on my toes, especially during the month of December....the busiest time of the year! Peace out for now!

Gordon Parks Photographs

Fellow readers.....I forgot to tell you about this last week but my English class took a field trip to the Ulrich Musuem on WSU's Campus. It was a lot of fun!! Don't you remember as a kid going on field trips, and the bus was crammed, and so loud from singing 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall?? Well, this field trip was not quite like that.....we didn't have a bus or the tunes to sing. Instead, we had thousands of pieces of art work all in one convenient location at WSU. While at the Ulrich Musuem, our class was asked to look and study two particular photographs taken by the famous Gordon Parks. Gordon Parks was famous for his photos that represented the struggles of African-Americans dealing with the social issue of segration. Everyone agreed, after studying the two photos, that they both depicted the struggles of African-Americans during the '50s. But as more opinions were shared, the more each individual saw something different in the photographs. It made me smile to think how his photographs and all the art there could move people in such a way that it was different for everyone who viewed the art. This is what is so special about art---it moves people in such a way that is always different and left up for interpretation to the individual. Sure, historians can tell you what a piece of art work is about but I think it is ultimately important what the viewer takes away from viewing art work or any visual art....So check out the Ulrich Museum sometime on WSU's campus! The best part is that is free to WSU students! The exhibits are always changing, too!! You don't want to miss what is going on at the Ulrich Museum.....Bye for now.........

Holiday Routine

As I have gotten older, the holidays have become more and more routine and a bit dull. I am not trying to be pessimistic but I am longing for that same excitement that I had as a child. For instance, this weekend is Halloween. It took me forever to come up with a costume this year! Normally, I get all excited to dress up, especially since I am a music theatre major, but this year I was bogged down with school, work, and extracurricular activities to where finding a costume was just not really that important. Plus, I feel that Halloween for adults is a lot different than it is for the young ones. I miss the days of simply going door to door getting candy. And how can I get into the spirit of Halloween when Wal-Mart already has Christmas Cards and decorations set out throughout the store? Holidays are just becoming more and more commercialized. Where is the fun in that? I say, as a nation, we shouldn't focus on whose costume is better or which gift I spent the most on for a loved one...........and learn to find that childhood spirit and joy again. I'm trying.......

Songfest 2009

Tonight concludes Shocktoberfest at WSU with an evening of performances from Greeks and various campus student orginizations. The ceremony starts at 7:00p.m. at the CAC Theatre. Songfest is basically a dance routine with the dancers lip synching to their favorite songs. At the event, Shocker Man and Woman of the Year will also be announced as well as the overall winner of the Shocktoberfest competition. Shockertoberfest is a long running tradition that has been around since WSU had a football team. It was like the school's homecoming. Today, the event has grown to be a huge celebration of school pride, filled with friendly competition. It's almost a preparation for the big WSU Tradition in the spring--Hippodrome. So come one and all out tonight to the CAC Theatre at 7:00 p.m. for free entertainment and chaotic excitement. SEE YOU TONIGHT!

Lights, Camera, ACTION!!

That is the theme for my weekend: Lights, Camera, ACTION!! The reason it is my 'theme' for the weekend is because I will get to attend several events that deal with potential careers in film or performing arts. This weekend marks the start of the TallGrass Film Festival, which is a film festival that showcases upcoming film makers and their work. I have two free vouchers to see one film.....a friend of mine may also have vouchers for me to attend the entire festival, seeing all the films. I am not so sure if I want to see all of them. Also, the cast of the National Broadway Tour of Wicked is in town. And guess what I get to do? Since I am a musical theatre major, I have the wonderful opportunity to sing for the music director and a cast member from Wicked. This opportunity will hopefully be a jump start to launching my own career. I get to sing and dance for them and receive honest feedback of what they thought of my performance. I am undoubtedly very excited. Hope you guys get a chance to get out to the film festival and see Wicked. These are just a few of the great performances that you don't want to miss in Wichita!

Home Stretch

Midterms went pretty well this past week. I am not failing my classes, although somedays, I feel like I am. I am very pleased with the outcome of my grades so far but I don't think I will be making it on the Dean's honor roll list this semester. My classes are just way too difficult and I am studying my tail off. Now we are in the home stretch of ending the semster. I need to buckle down the last couple of months so I can make good grades. Hopefully I will still have the drive, determination and motivation to finish off the semester after Thanksgiving break.

Arts in the Metro

There has been a lot of performing arts performances lately within the city. This week, Wicked rolls into town. This Broadway hit has taken the nation by storm and now is on tour traveling to various cities around the U.S. and this week, Wicked lands in Wichita. When I had my internship in Tulsa this past summer, I had the opportunity to see this show. The same cast that performed it in Tulsa will be in Wichita. I absolutley thought it was the best show I have ever seen on stage. The actors were so committed to telling the story of the two witches of Oz and I thoroughly enjoyed the lavish costumes and sets. It was truly a musical spectacle. Also, Chicago is still playing at the Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre. Chicago, I have heard, is one of the best shows that the Crown has had in years. Then of course, Maroon 5 will rock out Koch Arena on WSU's campus at the end of November. This is just a small taste of what performances will be going on in the Wichita area. There is always first and final friday art crawls for each month and bands that play at restaurants and bars. I mentioned in my last blog that I was at Oeno. The night, there was a jazz band from WSU that was playing smooth, relaxing music. Wichita is a city filled with artists and never ending artistic opportunities. So get out there and support the arts!!

Fall Break is Over........so, when is Thanksgiving Break??

Fall Break comes to an end as another week at school begins. It was really nice to have Thursday and Friday off of school, especially to recover from being sick. Last night, I felt much better and ventured out with my old high school friends to Oeno, the wine bar in OldTown. Don't freak out........I"M LEGAL!!! Anyway, it was awesome seeing them and catching up. My friend is getting married this June and asked me to sing in her wedding. I willingly agreed and cannot wait to sing at her wedding!! It will be my first wedding that I have ever sung at. Now that Fall Break is over, I am counting down the days until Thanksgiving!! I can't wait for family, food, and laughter. In the meantime, I am going to get in shape before CHRISTMAS!! Help me if you can............

Fall Break=Seasonal Illness

Fall Break started yesterday and there is no better way to spend it then being sick in bed. Everyone seems to be getting sick this time of year. The weather here quickly changed to almost winter with the start of October. Meterologists in the area said it has been the coldest October since they have started taking temperature records. It is no wonder that with this sudden seasonal change that people are feeling under the weather from allergies, strep throat, and the newest illness to hit the nation: H1N1 or commonly known as the swine flu. I have strep throat but luckily, I am on antibiotics. I always used to get strep throat as a child and the doctor said if I were to get it one more time, I would have to get my tonsels removed. Many years later, I have strep throat and I am in the workings of scheduling a surgery to get them removed at the age of 21. So please, as the season changes, wash your hands and if you feel the sudden sensation that you are feeling sick or KNOW something is wrong with your health, get to the doctor!! It is important to take care of yourself, a lesson that I constantly need to evaluate in this fast-paced society.

Sharpen your #2 Pencils.....

...........because midterms are here!! This week marks the midterm of the fall semester 2009. So that means it is time for the WSU students to be tested over the material they have covered from the beginning of the semester until now. I have a midterm in everyone of my classes, including dance. One may ask how does one task a dance midterm. Well, we are tested over the body and different movements of ballet and we are also asked to perform or dance such movements. Our midterm consists of both dancing and written examination. I am also really nervous for my midterm in Music Theory. It will be difficult to write out time signatures, scale degrees, and various musicalities. Thankfully, this week means that fall break is just around the corner and begins this Thursday. It will be nice to get a chance to just do nothing and relax..... especially with the swine flu going around. I haven't been feeling to great lately so hopefully I don't have the flu of the PIGGIES>>>>.

ArtAid 2009

This weekend I will have the privelege of attending Art Aid XVI 2009 on Saturday evening. This is a huge auction in which all proceeds benefit Positive Directions, a non-profit organization that helps people in the Wichita area who live with HIV/AIDS. This year's theme is Heroes and Villians. I am so excited to go out and look all spiffed up. It is always fun to dress up and look good every once and awhile. At the benefit, several art pieces, that feature local and regional artists, will be auctioned off. More than 200 pieces have been donated this year, and apparently towards the end of the auction, Planet Hair has put together a runway show that features over 100 models and dancers. There will also be a live band called the Naughy Astronauts and food from Corporate Caterers. I can't wait to go to my first auction, especially one that will benefit a great cause! Hope to see you tomorrow evening at 7pm at the Cotillion for food, fun, art, fashion, and fellowship!!

College

It is interesting what college can do to a person. I have grown and matured so much upon entry into the college, academic world. From expanding my horizons at Wichita State through education and friendships, I am becoming a man that will be able to survive the real world. One aspect that is most important and has greatly affected me is my relationships with my friends and family. In high school, I had many close friends but during my transition to college, I remained close to my closest friends. Sadly, I have started to lose contact with my close friends from high school due to time restraints and making newer friendships with those in college, espeically ones within my major. I wasn't that close to my family in high school. But as I have gotten older, I have grown closer to my family, especially since I have dreams of eventually moving to a bigger city out of the state of Kansas. I truly feel that most of the changes have come from attending college and all the changes have been excellent. I can not wait to see what else is in store for the future through my education at WSU.....

Trick or Treat.....Give me something good to be!!

Hello everyone........So I don't know what I'm going to be for Halloween. My friend and fellow fraternity brother, Dustin Kuhn, wants to do a group costume. Ok. I know what your thinking....group costumes are a mess! First you have to decide what everyone is going to be. THEN, you have to go out and purchase a costume if you don't have one that the 'group' WANTS you to be. Finally, sometimes people change their minds and drop out of the group AFTER you have purchased your costume. And these days, most costumes are non-returnable. We have all been there before and yet constantly do these group costumes over and over again. So maybe I should just dress up on my own this year.....But WHAT though?? Last year I did the superhero thing with Superman. And the year before, Harry Potter. Everyone is going to be Michael Jackson or a superhero or Harry Potter.....or that guy from Twilight...but I want to be something cool, different, and saucy. Tabasco Bottle?? I have no clue....so hit me up for ideas!!

Change of Season...

Happy October everyone! I am so glad that we are in one of my favorite months. October gives me a happy feeling of relaxation and great, cozy weather; the kind in which you just want to snuggle with your favorite pet or bake cookies. I have been starting off October with a bang! Last night, I tried this new form of yoga at a local yoga gym called Siva. They use additional heat through a heated floor. Having a heated floor has many benefits. It is much better for your muscles when doing certain yoga stretches and positions. Today, I feel great!! I notice a huge difference in my stamina, mind clarity, posture, and muscle tone. I recommend anyone to try it but if you haven't done yoga before, it would be wise to do a couple of basic yoga classes. Check out this site for more information: http://www.sivaplay.com/. This evening I am going to see a movie at the Warren Theatres. These theatres are really nice if you plan on coming to WSU. They are truly comforting, relaxing and huge. The movie I will be seeing is called the Invention of Lying. It is set in a world where no one can lie except for one gentleman named Mark Gervais. But he soon discovers that lying has both its benefits and downfalls. I am excited to see it! It will be a great start to my weekend and October!! HAPPY FALL!!

Is that red velvet CUPCAKES??!!

Last night, Student Ambasador Society had their annual picnic at the Beggs' home. Dr. Beggs, the current president at Wichita State, and his wife, happily open their home for an annual picnic honoring the service that Student Ambassador Society students give to WSU. The food was astoundingly scrumptious. There was this really yummy salad that had a Mediterranean flair. There was red rice and beans, as well as two types of meats: pork and steak. Being the protein lover that I am, I willingly put both on my plate. For dessert, there were red velvet cupcakes. They were truly the icing on top of a wonderful meal. The weather was perfect and all SAS members looked 'fresh' in their fall fashion, business attire. SAS gave flowers to the Beggs as well as a fifty dollar donation to Victory in the Valley, a non-profit cancer support organization, in Shirley's name. Overall, the evening was fun-filled with laughs, great food, and great friends.......but the best part was those CAKES!!

The Show is Over...WHAT NOW?

This past weekend concluded the WSU fall musical. Rave reviews from faculty, staff and the Wichita community are overwhelming. Everyone who I invited to see the show absolutely enjoyed the exciting choreography, colorful set design, and talented actors and actresses. Now that the show is over, I do not know what to do with my time other than to play catch up! I will continue to study harder in my classes as well as getting back to the gym! I am thinking about starting the P90x video workout series. I have many friends who have tried it and swear by it. They look phenomenal. Hopefully it will get me ripped too. Also, I am planning on relaxing with family and friends at many Wichita art exhibitions like Finaly Friday, First Friday, and art galleries. I am so excited for the rest of the semester. This is going to be a great one!!

Party in the U.S.A.

I feel great. Do you ever get one of those days where everything seems to be going your way?? Well today is that day. I woke up feeling extremely energized and I made it to class ON TIME. Turned all my homework with confidence and made progress in ballet class. And tonight is opening night of the fall WSU musical, How to Succeed in Business Without really trying. For a whole month we have rehearsed for this show and we are finally ready to present a colorful-production of WSU talent. Hope to see you there!!

ITS THE WEEK OF THE SHOW YA'ALL

This Thursday, September 24th 2009 marks the opening of WSU's fall musical, How to Suceed in Business without Really Trying. The plot centers around J. Pierpont Finch, a young but bright window-cleaner, who buys a book - "How To Succeed In Business" and follows its advice joins the multi-national but poorly-connected "World-Wide Wicket Company". Starting from the mail-room he rises to Vice-President in Charge Of Advertising using sneaky and dubious ways so that the person above him gets either fired or moved to another section of the company. He also starts slowly falling in love with secretary Rosemary Pilkington. Meanwhile, the president of the WWWC, J.B. Biggley, tries to have an affair with drop-dead gorgeous bubble-head Hedy LaRue, but she becomes a weapon used both by Finch and Bud Frump, Biggley's brattish and annoying nephew who believe that he should get all the breaks and not Finch. Can Finch rise to the top or will it all go down in flames...?? Well go see the show and find out!! Show times are this Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:30p.m and Sunday at 2p.m. The show is directed by Music Theatre of Wichita's Producing Artistic Director Wayne Bryan. For ticket information, call the Fine Arts Box Office at (316) 978-3233. Hope to see you there!!!!

DG Bageling

Tonight marks the annual evening of Bageling with the Delta Gammas. Bageling is a tradition in which bagels, dough, old trash, and food are thrown at all the fraternities by the Delta Gammas. The DGs visit each fraternity house on campus and basically have a huge food fight with the members of the fraternity. My first time bageling was hazy cause it just seemed to come and go so fast! Food was everywhere. You could barely see. The next year, we got smart and lit a fire in front of the house that surrounded the two raggedy anne and andy dolls that belonged to Delta Gamma. It was AMAZING last year, especially with blarring guitar music played by our own brother, John 'Belushi'Coleman. Tonight, will be just as epic!!! The smell after the food fight is always a rememorable one. Its a smell that you just can't recreate ever!! A smell that only occurs on Bageling night!!!

And the home of the......SIG EPS!!

So, last night was an important event in our chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon. It was the big softball game against Phi Delta Theta. My fraternity brothers, as well as the men of Phi Delta Theta, seemed nervous for what was about to take place. Excitement was in the air and the smell of the freshly mowed grass stinged the tips of our noses. A sea of blue and red lined up against both sides of the softball field. The game started off rough for both teams but quickly turned around for our favor. It seemed that all of my fraternity brothers hit great hits that slipped past the opposing team's hands, making them chase off for the grounders. Towards the second half of the game, the score became almost neck and neck. Finally, towards the end, the Phi Delts missed a couple of catches that could of easily allowed them to win the game. Luckily, through their errors, we won the softball game! My fraternity brothers and I were awefully excited for the victory! IT was an AWESOME start to the competitions that were about to begin for the rest of the school year. After last night, I knew I was proud to be a SIG EP!

Higher Education

I am grateful for being able to wake up every morning and go to school. For some reason, I love school with each passing day. I do not think it is entirely because I love my major, it is also because I enjoy the higher education that I am receiving at WSU. Wichita State University is a great college and I discover this every minute of every day. No matter what your major is, you will receive a well-rounded education that truly is above the rest. The students here are dedicated and truly focused on achieving their dreams. That is what seperates WSU from all other colleges. It truly is a campus where you can fulfill your fullest potential. I was thinking about this last night at rehearsal. The education I am receiving from my professors is phenominal. My peers that surround me daily are just as motivated and educated. The constant, consistent effort they put in is outstanding and pushes me to work just as hard as they do. I can not wait to go to rehearsal again tonight and discover what else I can learn at from my professors WSU. If you are an incoming freshman next year, you should really call the Office of Admissions at 316-978-3085 and schedule a campus visit. This will be truly helpful in seeing what opportunities await you at a metropolitan college. I am seeing the results of me becoming a Thinker, Doer, Mover and a SHOCKER!!!!!

Through the years......

My weekend was drabe and dull. I had to housesit for family friends so I wasn't able to explore Wichita as much as I wanted to. But what I am going to discuss in my blog today me like a ton of bricks this past weekend. Every Sunday we visit my Grandmother and my Grandfather. We have done this every evening since I have been a kid and we usually play board games, catch up, and 'gossip' about the state of our extended family. My Grandfather died in May of 2001. He had Alzheimer's disease, a disease that effects both memory and functioning of the brain. For eight years now, my Grandmother has been living alone. It seems to me because of this, her mind too is deteriating. With this in mind, I want to remain active as much as possible as I can through the years to come. I want to always stimulate my mind and make sure that I am always doing the best to my abilities. Knowing this, today is a fresh start. A new beginning towards productivity and drive towards career ambitions. I encourage you as well to simply talk with people who maybe alone, especially older grandparents and family members. Just doing this for a few minutes will truly stimulate their mind and make them feel like they belong in our society....I will start calling my Grandma two times a week. Hopefully this will improve here wit and charm like I have always known my Grandma to possess.

School........

It's a little under the first month into the first semester and things are going so fast! I am running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Thankfully, I love all my classes. My classes are mostly performing arts classes except for my English 101 course. My classes provide such a well-rounded education. I am truly having numerous performing opportunities in and outside the classroom. Tomorrow is a work day for music theatre major students. Basically what a work day is a time to put together the technical aspects of a production together. We will paint the sets, sew costumes, build sets, and organize the auditorium and dressing rooms for the production. It is really hands on and makes one appreciate what all goes into doing a production. NOT as easy as it looks. I will keep you guys posted on how it goes tomorrow and what I will be up to this weekend. (Probably not much since I will be housesitting and dogsitting for friends). It will be a quick weekend getaway. I look forward to it!! Peace Y'ALL!!

GREASE IS THE WORD......

Sometimes I think my life is a musical. Ok, before you think I'm insane, let me explain. For instance, today in class, songs from shows keep going through my head and I imagine scenes and how they would look like on stage. Then I think about how that show or theme kind of fits into everyday life and how I could apply it to my life. Today, Grease happened to be the show of choice. The first song in the show is Grease is the Word. That song for some reason just played over and over in my head to the point it 'worked' its way into the classroom of Devlin Hall at WSU. I imagined how the characters of Grease did not care about going to school and wanted to break free from social restraints. It kind of made me laugh as I was taking deligent notes in English 101, dreading the thought of taking the quiz in just a few minutes. I think that is why people enjoy music theatre, theatre, and any performing arts. No matter what art form it is, it has to be truly relateable to the people. When that is achieved, we will often get a deeper understanding of the world around us. The musical Wicked teaches the importance of friendship and how people quickly come and go into our lives and how they impact our lives. Oklahoma teaches that we must all get along with the 'farmer and the cowman'. The Fantasticks teaches what the loss of innocence can do to a young, maturing adolescent. Finally, How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying teaches that....................I WON'T TO TELL YOU!! You have to come see it at the end of the month at WSU!! It performs Sept. 24 through the 27th at Wilner Auditorium on WSU Campus. Come see the show and tell me what theme it is teaching about the world around us. WORD!!

Labor Day Weekend ENDS ; (

Labor Day Weekend comes to an end! Today I ate out for lunch and then I overate a home cooked dinner. NOT GOOD! Now I need to hit the gym like a mouse on cheese! I ate at Nu-Way for lunch. OH MY GOODNESS!! Talk about grease on a plate. I got a large Nu-Way which is like a hamburger with fried crumbly meat with a side order of onion rings. To top off my indulgence, I got a rootbeer. I never drink pop but hey, it's LABOR DAY!! For dinner, we had sloppy joes and cauliflower with cheese--heart-attack on a plate. HAVE MERCY ON ME AND MY WAIST LINE!! Then reality sat in and I realized all this homework I had to do......Oh well.......Look forward to next year's Labor DAY! Hopefully it will be just as fun!!

Continued Labor Day Weekend

Friday Night was lame. I didn't go out at all because I had rehearsal till 10 p.m. and was exhausted. But Saturday was fun!! I went to a barbeque with some friends and had great food and conversation. It was a lot of fun to hang out and talk about what had been going on with our lives. The food was delicious!! There was BBQ brisket, mashed potatoes, and even brownies for dessert. We watched football too and reminisced about funny, past occurences. Last night I went to my fraternity and hung out there. They too were grilling out last night. I also got to hang out with my 'grandpa' in the family tree. It was good to see him and hopefully he will make it out to the musical at WSU to see me perform............... Still time left of Labor Day Weekend!! I will get on tonight and let you know what I will do.....Peace.

Labor Day Weekend

Thank goodness the weekend is here and LABOR DAY WEEKEND at that!! I will finally get a chance to get caught up on things like homework and extracurricular activity stuff. Also, I am looking forward to a fun-filled weekend! I have wanted to go out tonight with some friends to a club but I don't know if they will want to go. You know how that goes!! I have not been out dancing in a long time! I really like to go clubbing in Wichita cause it is a chance to see EVERYONE out and about. That is why I like Wichita: once you have lived here for just two years, everyone seems to know you really fast. It is a small town community with a big city feel. I may go to Rodeo or end up chilling at my fraternity house. Haven't done that in awhile. Read my blogs tomorrow to see what my plans will be......there is talk of a roadie to Oklahoma City to visit some friends with my fraternity brothers....TO BE CONTINUED!!!!!!!!

TGIF

Today is Friday August 28th, which concludes the first full week of school. As I have mentioned before in my past blogs, this school year will be hectic but certainly fun. Now I am getting into my core classes and will enjoy learning about what I will be doing in my specific job field. Also, today is the last Friday of the month WHICH MEANS Final Friday in Oldtown! WOOT! Final Friday is this really cool local gallery crawl in Wichita on the last Friday of every month. You get to tour local restaurants and bars (if you are of age) while viewing local artists' shows. I went to MY first Final Friday a month ago and had a really good time. When you walk downtown, you get to go and visit all the art galleries, view the artwork and sometimes discuss the artwork with the actual artist. At the galleries, there is free snacks and drinks, including wine, soda, and water. It is a very chill atmosphere and the people that attend are artistic and educated. If you get a chance, GO!! There is a lot to see and do! The nice thing about it, most everything is FREE!! Music to my ears on my college budget......see you at Final Friday!

My favorite hobby

SO we all have hobbies but one of my favorite one is one I just picked up a year ago: working out. I LOVE to workout!! Ask any of my friends freshman year at WSU and they could tell you how out of shape I was. I wasn't too out of shape but I personally wanted to turn my life around and get into better shape. That is what college is all about. Discovering who you are and what you want to do with your life and how you want to reach your goals. One of the changes I wanted to make was to live a healthier lifestyle. Some of the reasons why I enjoy it so much is that it is structured, relaxing, and self-accomplishing. I feel great after a good workout. I feel like I accomplished something and that I can take on the world with added confidence. I think that it is so important to live a healthy lifestyle in all walks of life. A healthy social life, a healthy home life with family, and a personal, healthy life. I think working out just gives one that extra self esteem and self-awareness that is needed to be happy with who you are as a person. If you want to hit the weights sometime, let me know cause more than likely I will be on campus at the Heskett Center enjoying a good workout, for free. Yeah, that's right. When you go to WSU, you get workout on campus for free at the Heskett Center. The gym is well equipped with free weights, weight machines, a running track, swimming pool, dance studios, and combat rooms as well as circuit training, raquetball courts and a cardio room filled with treadmills galore. IT'S AWESOME and perfect for any fitness level. Stop reading my blog right now, get out of that chair....and go workout....

BACK TO SCHOOL and Rehearsal Begins......5,6,7,8!

Well, I survived my first three days back to school. I can already tell that this semester is going to be a hectic one! Some of my classes are located on opposite ends of campus, which means that I will be in a rush from one side to the other everyday. The good thing is that our campus is so pretty with the various artistic sculptures that I will get to pass by those everyday. Plus, I can warm up my legs on the way to ballet class. Finally, tonight starts rehearsal for our Fall Musical, How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying. I am excited because it will be directed by Music Theatre of Wichita's own, Wayne Bryan. It will be beneficial to be in a show directed by him because he will be able to pass on his knowledge of directing and musical theatre skills onto the rest of the WSU musical theatre students. For those interested in coming to see the show, the show runs September 24 through the 27. Call 316-978-3233 for tickets!!

New Job and a New School Year!

I started my new job in the Office of Admissions at Wichita State University today. The people that I will be working with are so very nice. It will be like working with old friends because I have been lucky enough to have met most of them already through my involvement in Student Ambassador Society, a student orginization group on campus whose mission is to promote loyal service through Shocker spirit. On top of that, I can't wait for the school year to start! Looking at my fifteen hour class schedule, I am reminded of how exciting it truly is to be a Shocker and how I am moving forward within my degree. I am excited to see my friends in my fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon. I am exicted to see my friends from Student Ambassador Society. I am excited to see my friends in the musical theatre department. And I am EXCITED to meet new friends this year, both freshmen and transfer students. That is the best! To meet new people who have shear joy to be apart of the Shocker family and who are excited to learn. Babysteps to Thursday August 20th......