Video of Christmas concert

Here's a video I made of the Christmas concert last night. It's amazing what a Canon Powershot A510, Windows Movie Maker, and YouTube can do!

Christmas Concert...West Philly style

Since my dad is a music teacher, I've had the privilege of attending (even participating) in several of his Christmas concerts. Tonight was my first Christmas concert at Our Mother of Sorrows/St. Ignatius. It was quite different than the Disney-style my dad does so well! Still, the point of the evening was accomplished, the students were proud, and the parents left happy. For the amount of communication and preparation (or lack thereof) that went into it, the performance went well! I got to play a solo piano piece as well as accompany Silent Night for two other teachers. Try as I might, the soul/gospel style Silent Night just doesn't naturally go with my playing style! I'll have to work on that.

Here are pictures to tonight's concert. (that's Zion and me below)
I'll have a video posted soon, too!

Also...I'M ON CHRISTMAS BREAK!!!! I fly home tomorrow morning. Michigan, here I come!

Becoming a Master

Today I applied to become a master. Of education, that is. I'm applying to the Walden University Masters Program of Education, specialization in Elementary Reading and Literacy. I chose this program because it's online (not land-locking me to Philly, Michigan, or anywhere else), offers a good program with interesting course descriptions, more affordable than most, and I will be able to complete the program in 20 months. Classes start January 2!

Sidewalk art

Here are several incredible pictures of sidewalk art. I'd love to walk up to one of these sometime! Wonder how long they last before weather attacks...

Carpe giftus

That's Latin for "seize the gifts", of course. Highly appropriate for this season, I'd say! =)

Last night home group had a white elephant gift exchange. (other events including singing Christmas carols and eating good Christmas-y foods, but those details aren't as important as the gifts) I drew number 14 of 16, so I had high hopes for my chances. My fellow home groupers, however, were quite deft at selecting and stealing gifts, so by the time my turn came around, most of the good stuff was "locked" after being stolen twice. Instead of stealing a mediocure gift, I went for the jugular and opened the last unwrapped gift. I gave a shriek when I opened it! Here's what was in it:
It was a picture of Nana--our home group leader's 82-year-old grandma! Her actual name is Margie. There was much laughter, and I couldn't think of a better way to end the game! As one of the other members pointed out to me, I could always throw away the frame and keep the picture. Hey--that's the risk of the white elephant!

And you thought road rage was bad

Here's something called "mouse rage". Why am I not surprised?

My student on Phillies website!

Check out Phillies.com today! My 7th grade student Michael is on the front page article about charities!! (he's left of the mascot Phanatic)