My life...

Greetings-

Well what is new with me...a lot actually. It is now the 3rd week of school and it already feels like an eternity. I am back in routine of getting oh so little sleep and hurting everyday from playing my cello and riding my bike oh about 14 miles a week-no joke. I am writing this blog because I have not really been around long enough to talk to anyone and more often than not I find my self alone when I am actually around.

Things I have been doing:

Work (yea for early morning shifts): not much to tell except I get all my work tasks done in the first 30 min of my shift and the rest of the time I find ways to keep my self awake.

School: (Funny how we say we go to school be never say what we do, even though we spend many hours here)

7:20am-Ed class one-I get to work with high school kids at Rocky Mountain High. I actually get to work with all of the music departments with another classmate/friend of mine. We get to spend 1/3 of the semester with band, 1/3 with Choir, and 1/3 with the Orchestra. All the ensembles are the top ensembles of the music program, and we get to teach one lesson in each of the groups. This is quite exciting!!- Right now I am working in a groups researching education theorist- mine is Robert Marzano (Classroom Management that works-Assertive Discipline and managing Violence. interesting?...maybe

Ed class 2-personally this class is a challenge for me to stay awake in just because it is right after I get out of work and it is a bit long. we are learning how to write a curriculum and how to recruit students to join band/orchestra/choir- fun fun. you know learning the method behind the madness is not really all that fun sometimes.

now we go to all my ensembles

Orchestra:

well we have been preparing for our concert that we have in 8 days. That music is a bit challenging but I think that we sound really good as an ensemble. We are working a lot on sound, tempo (getting things faster and playing it all at the same time), Balance (we are a bit bottom heavy with all the cellos and basses), and building up endurance for the 3 pieces we are playing. Personally I am not to fond of the 2 modern pieces. it sounds okay in some spots but I am not a fan. I just am not a fan of most of the 20th century classical music in general.

Quartet:

I am now in a Piano Quartet. I love the people I am with this semester, but it is quite a new experience to work in a piano quartet. It is my first time working with this particular ensemble and it is cool to hear how the parts work together so nicely.

Cello lessons:

well I am currently working on my stuff for my Senior recital that is quickly approaching. Things are going quite well. I am pleased with my selections that I am working on and now my challenge is to make each piece sound great!

Steel Band:
(Teaching moment):

Now I get a lot of people asking what is Steel Band. Well Steel band is an ensemble here at CSU that is made up of Steel pan Drums. Now as you can see from the picture steel drums are mettle instruments that originate from Trinidad and Tobago (Not from Jamaica.)

Most pieces that are played on the drums are calypso music but we play from classical to contemporary. It can all be played. The pictures are of the Cello steel Drum. This is the one I play. It has 3 drums so it is quite a work out. I play the cello steel pan. I think they are fun. I am learning another one called the Double seconds so i am in the "newbie group". (they are only 2 pans) which is kind of nice change. so I get to learn a new instrument this semester. I am also in the rhythm section because it is cool. Even though our band is split up into 2 groups we are all always playing something so it just at what difficulty the music is at. This is a very cool group to be apart of.

Cello Pedagogy class:

I have not started this class yet but this semester I get to do "student teaching" private lessons. I am not sure when I will have time for this but, it is something I have to do.

So as you can see school is keeping me busy and out of trouble. Oh last weekend I got to take the PLACE (Program for Licensing Assessment for Colorado Educators) exam. This exam is for receiving my teacher licence) I hope I did okay on it. I felt like some of the questions were bogus and the test mostly catered towards vocalists. At least I am not the only one who thinks this. Us music kids think it was written by a non- music person and it is not a good assessment on our knowledge of Music Education. Anyways, I will not find out how I did for a few more weeks.

I am also trying to continue to get help with my reading through the Learning center but I have had no luck with them. So I think that am going to have to work on it on my own like most things in my life lately. I am sure doing a lot better at reading but I still feel like I am behind and would like that extra support. I guess you can not have everything in life that you want.

well if you stayed reading this I hope you are having a nice day and thank you for reading my blog. It is a long one but, I have a lot going on on this part of my life.

If you ever want to chat with me you can either try to find me in between classes or just instant message/facebook/myspace me or call if you have my number. -take care

-Manda Panda

to:All my lady friends

*If you are reading this on facebook please see the original post to see the movie.*

Okay I chose this Video of The Royal Teens who sing " Short shorts" In honor of one of my new friends observation of girl's apparel.

To all my lady friends,

I am writing to you today to give you a bit of incite that has recently been given to me and to share my thoughts and observations. Today's topic is Fashion but not in the way you might think. This may seem superficial but just think of it as a public service announcement.

Fashion comes and goes like an ocean wave, but I must have to say that not everything in the trendy fashion world is meant to leave the rack. Now I am not an expert at these matters but ladies please start using your head and the gray matter between your ears. STOP right now dressing like hoochie mama's and start showing some modesty.

Now according to history, when it comes to fashion, women do the craziest things to catch that certain guys attention. I am not just talking about American culture but in all cultures across the world. It is quite amusing to take a peek at how women try to beautify them selves to make them selves appealing to the opposite sex. Here are some things that is common to see but is not limited to: hair do, the clothing, make-up, undergarments, the shoes, hat and purses and of course the Bling bling (Jewelry if you do not know what bling bling is.) This is not just a unique think to humans, but I think all animals are programmed to try and impress the opposite sex by looks, smells and what not. There is even a point in time when showing a bare wrist was considered scandalous. The scandal for the past few years is how reveling clothing has become.

Ladies why wear clothing that does not flatter you? When you wear them short clothing especially them short skirts or shorts what kind of message are you sending to the people around you. As you may know appearance does sadly matter in this world. It seems like it projects a little bit of your personality but yet to some people they just do not care and ware what ever. When it starts to get concerning is when things get a little too reveling.

I am going to now use an old funny and a bit out dated saying that my mom once told me. "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?" Sure by wearing your small, short clothing you are getting the attention of guys but what you may not think about is that the kind of attention is not all good. The guy will not respect you if you do not first respect your self and a way to show that you respect your self is not to flaunt all your goods to the world. So, cover up just a little bit more and impress the guy with mystery not vulgarity.

Ladies if you are guilty of owning a pair of them short "booty" shorts ,especially if they have writing on the butt, please leave them in at home your closet next to your short skirt and ugg boots. They are not as cool as you think they are and you will gain so much more respect from guys and your fellow women folk.

Thank you and good day.

Manda Panda

America's Got Talent-special edition

Tonight is the night. It is the Final result show for America's got talent and I am so excited right now. Through this blog I am going to write from the start of the show to the end.

I have been watching this season from the beginning and now at the end. Overall I think 3 out of the top 4 should be there. I have been rooting for Butterscotch (beat boxer/singer), Terry Fator(Ventriloquist who does singing impersonations male and female) and Cas Haley (reggae singer) but I really think that Terry is going to win. He is just amazing at doing what he does. I hope he wins. I do not think that Julienne Irwin should have been in the top 4. She is not quite ready yet but the other 3 are.

we will have to see.

Terry Fator

Butterscotch

Cas Haley

Julienne Irwin-she is 14 by the way

And the top 3 are....

Terry Fator

Cas Haley

Butterscotch

Yea! the 3 that i had picked!

humm top 2: I think it is going to be Cas and Terry

and the top 2 are...

Cas

Terry-

I am so excited!!!! i was right again

I hope it is Terry who will win! but it will be ok if Cas will win too...he is also amazing!

Man that was am interesting performance by the Hoff...

and the winner is....

so excited right now -oh i hate it when they tease you so you have to sit through some more commercials....

YEA!!!! TERRY WON! TERRY WON! i was right!

Oh man He is so cool!

well this concludes my America's got talent blog special edition

Peace-Manda Panda

Move in day-venting-it is long sorry...

Oh my gosh. I would have to say that today has been by far the Craziest day! Today we (when I say we I mean O-team), had to check in a lot of people here at m residence hall. I think we checked in close to 300 students today if not more. We did have a few road blocks (like wrong keys issued out) but overall I think that my O-team and other staff did an awesome job at making this crazy move in day a bit smoother.

I think this whole week I have felt so overwhelmed and out of my element. But I am going to have to say the best part of the week was last night when a lot of the RA's as well as a few of my friends that are on O-team had a dance party. It was very nice to get a chance to be my self and have some fun. I felt like I have been having to be an Information booth and I am not really use to that. Even when I am in the classroom it is not as stressful as this week has been believe it or not.
I am just glad it is over! I must say even though this experience has been difficult for me to handle, I am so glad that I have had such a wonderful support system with My boss, the Resident Director and the Hall Director, the RA's , my friends who work at the front desk and all 13 other people from O-team. I think that I would have cracked if they had not been so encouraging and helpful.
Okay I have been doing O-team for the last four years, last year I was Co-President and I never have been so stressed out before. But of course this is my first year that I call the shots, which is an extremely rare occasion in my life being the youngest in my very loving family. Last year I was Co-President because I was volunteered by the co-chair one day for my ability to be creative. So I was mostly in charge of coming up with ideas to decorate the lobby. I had no idea what all my old co-chair did. This year I had a Co-President because I was training her to take over the President spot for next year and I made sure to involve her in as much as I could. And we are leaving a paper trail for the future O-team people who have no clue what is going on. I think she is going to be amazing at being president next year and I hope she has someone next year who will be just as wonderful as she is to help her out.

I loved how involved the RA's got with the O-team and Desk staff this past week. In the 4 years of doing this I have never had so much interaction with the RA's during the week O-team is around. Yes we would meet the RA's but I think this year I really got to know a lot of them a lot better than I have in the past. Team building works wonders.

I am just happy it is done and I got to meet some amazing people in the past week. As for me I think I took a crash course in how to be a leader. I hope I did okay.

HA HA! I just had a funny thought. I feel like I am Doogie Howser typing away his crazy day on his computer. Sad but true I am that old already.



Well I guess I must agree with Doogie in this clip (Because he is the Man) Respect does go a long way. Night

Manda Panda

Happy Aug.

Wow this summer has gone by so fast. well since I have not kept my blog updated I am going to do a little catch up and hopefully write more in here this month than i did last month. well in the month of July a few cool things that happened to me was After 7 months of intense knitting I finished my blanket and I entered it into the Adams County Fair. As you can see from the picture I got a Red Ribbon (2nd place) for it only because I did not wash it and I had a few unclipped yarn tails. But I am just so happy that I got it done and I actually finished it.

Also in the Great month of July I turned 22. I celebrated my big day with mini-golf with my parents and sister followed by a marshmallow roast with my family and family friends. It was quite a fun shin-dig.

I mostly spent my last few days of summer break with my family and at home getting ready to move back up to Fort Collins.
I am now back in Fo. Co. early for Orientation Team aka O-team. It has been a hectic few days up here so far. This year I am a co-President for O-team partly because I was last year and this is my fourth time on O-team. So My job has been trying to coordinate the O-team staff and prepair them for opening check-in day as well as trying to calm down my boss Barbara who is panicking a little bit because this is her first time opening a residence Hall. From what she has told me the only people who know about opening the residence halls is us returners on O-team. Since this is the case and me being the one who has done this the most I am the one having to answer all kinds of questions and making important decisions. This has been a new experience for me and a little on the stressful side but you know from the response I have been getting from people I am feeling a bit more confident that I am managing the situation pretty good. I am excited because today was our first day decorating the lobby for our big check in day and we are about 1/2 done with it and it is looking way better than what i had expected. My o-team staff this year is fantastic and I am appreciating their help their ideas and their company so far this week.

I am not looking forward to Monday when the band kids arrive here at the dorm mostly because I get to open the office to work and I have to check-in all 35 people by my self from 8am-9:45ish. so if you are in band and checking in on Monday to a dorm please be patient with the desk worker. It is a long process and we are doing the best we can in such a short amount of time.
well har har and hody ho my friends. Be safe and have a fun rest of the summer.
Manda Panda

Happy July

Greetings and salutations my dear friends. I know I have not written since May. Well the month of June was simply fabulous. I had a lot happen. Here are some highlights. My little cousin Isaiah graduated from Kindergarten and my cousin Nick graduated from My old high school Thornton High school. I got to go to Eliches for a Catholic Youth day with my family and some kids from our church. Well it is official. I have ridden all the roller coasters at Eliches at least once in my life time. I have to agree that the flying coaster is not very fun the second time around. lets see...I have read 3 books book one and five of Harry Potter and another called Mr. Darcy's Diary. Oh if you like Pride and Prejudiced you have to read Mr. Darcy's Diary. It is a good one.

I have given up on my job search for the summer. I only had one interview that did not turn out very well. I have been doing walking/running/swimming/working out this summer to keep in shape. *wink* I have been working on my audition excerpts for orchestra and preparing for my recital that i have in November. (darn i got bit by a mosquito tonight playing night Frisbee with my sister and a family friend and my dad)

Well I am making excellent progress on my knitted blanket. I am even going to enter it into the Adams county fair now at the end of July. Wish me luck I have 18 more squares to knit-granted that it takes about a day to make one. but i do have 30 made so not bad not bad. it is looking awesome!

well other than that I am not doing much-helping out my grandparents here and there and helping out my parents.
well I hope you all are having a nice vacation.
Happy 4th of July as well--

Manda Panda

it is Amazing

It is just amazing how busy your life can be when you are helping out your family.

Now that I have been off from school I have been trying to look for a Job but I have not really had the opportunity to. I have Been busy with my family. From family vacations to baby sitting my godson and Isabel to helping out with my grandparents it seems like I am always doing something.

But I love helping out my family and making their day just a bit better. Yesterday I got to help take care of my grandparents who really need the help. My grandma is still sick with her hip and wrist but is at home now and is in need of help. My poor Grandpa tries his best to help my Grandma as best as he could but is having trouble going out to get groceries and stuff like that because he fears that my Grandma will fall and hurt her self again.

So yesterday I drove him to the bank and the grocery store while my Mom stayed with my Grandma. It was so much fun getting to go shopping with my Grandpa. He let me drive his big truck and he started to tell me stories about how he would drive, when he was little, on his horse to towns that were from Thornton to as far as Castle Rock and back to go get his mom 50 lbs of sugar so that she could can the fruit from their orchard that was on their ranch in Las Vegas New Mexico, on Canyon Larga. he was telling me how his mom would let him help her make bread in the outdoor oven (horno) or when he would have to milk

the cows and his mom would make cheese and he would have to go on horseback to sell the cheese.

It is so different when I hear stories of my Grandparents childhood and compare it to the experiences that I have had. They did not have electricity, washing machines/dryers, electric stoves, computers, phones in their house, TV, fast food places or cars when they were kids growing up on the farms. They worked and did some school, but mostly worked and helped their parents. Then you fast forward to now where I consider my self to be very privileged. I do not have to worry about having Rattle snakes in my house or being cold because the fire in the stove went out. I do not live in an Adobe house that my parents made like my Grandparents did and their parents before them. It is interesting to think about how much has changed since my grandparents were young and how much things have not. family, religion, working hard, culture are all things that are Central to how my mom's side of the family works. These are things that have not changed much. I don't know what do you think?