Need of a laugh?

Just for a Laugh or two. Enjoy both videos.

Here is the real video

3 Years later

Greetings Blogger-

It has been quite a while since I last posted. After sitting here laughing at all my crazy posts that I had written when I was doing my undergrad I figured I should update a few things.

5 things to know

1. Teaching is not as scary as it may seem once you have classroom management down (Fred Jones is my Hero).

2. Life seems to always throw crazy-ness at you and you just have to overcome it.

3. No matter how hard you try to get over something, some things are just never going to leave you like loosing someone close to you.

4. You can knit your way out of a plastic bag. (see Plarn )

5. You can always start a new chapter in your life, but the hardest part is finishing what you have started.

So after all of that, it is exciting to see what the future has in store for us all.

As I was lesson planning for my 2nd grade class, I saw in the curriculm books about Carmen Miranda and a Jazz song called Jada. So in effort to bring the musician's work to life I jumped on youtube to find a great video of Carmen singing and Count Basis playing Jada. Enjoy.

planning a road trip check this out

Hello Friends

If you are planning a road trip some time and wish to see some odd things along the side of the road, check out this web sight. It is quite intresting.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/

Happy Travels

A.V.

P.S watch out for the Muffler man!

running thoughts

As I sit here pondering what topic I should write on for my first paper for my summer class, I am finding my self wondering into other thoughts like, My family vacation, My new job and all the different things I have to do before I start school, my desire to knit right now or defeating the evil doers on Lego Indiana Jones. I am just having so much trouble focusing. So forgive this blog if it goes off topic. lol

I think I am going to live my life like Indiana Jones teacher part time and do one of my true passion in the other time. Only mine is not cracking a whip and fighting people. ;) I am going to continue to play my cello to improve on my skills so that I could play in them movie orchestras. :) Maybe play in one of them big summer blockbuster films. When that happens I will let you know! I have spent too much time thinking of all the things I can not do. Now I am thinking of the things I can do and setting new goals to reach in my life.

I am really excited for this years family trip. FYI our usual family trips are to California (L.A, or San Diego area), Las Vegas or New Mexico. This year as we pondered over our travel destinations we FINALLY decided to go to Seattle now for the 4th of July! Yea some place I have not been to. We are driving over there which is going to be interesting but I hope we can manage. We have a little bit more planning to do but from the looks of it, we are going to have fun! I had to laugh at my grandparents response to our destination. "what's in Seattle? You should go to New Mexico. " lol well we are expanding our horizons. Maybe next year we could go international! any suggestions?

As for my preparations for teaching. I feel so under prepared. This is one thing they do not teach you in Education classes. How to prepare for your first year....You get the training on class room management, lesson planning (sorta), pedagogy stuff, teaching methods but never really how to plan for that first year. Maybe it is something to be experienced and cannot be described. *Shrug*

I have been doing a lot of reading the last few weeks for my summer class...yes yes I have to take a summer class to full fill a missing class so I could graduate. I have been reading world literature from the first written stories of the Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greek, Roman, India, and China I am not up to the common era which starts at the birth of Jesus. So all that I have been reading is pre-Jesus! But I am learning new things like the Trojan war stories (the fake horse), the origin of the word Lesbian comes from the Greek Island of Lesbos, which was a popular place for women to be educated and they worshiped Aphrodite (famous woman poet Sappho- first to write Lyric poetry) , The origin of Buddhism is not in Asia like I had previous thought but in India. So it just proves that I only know so little about other cultures and this class has opened my eyes to the world, even though it is a lot of reading.

Also this summer i joined with my sister to participate in Co-ed softball. Now I have not played softball since I was in 8th grade but I remembered how much fun I had. Now the team I am on is called the Roots and I must say we do need to work on our batting skills (me included) we are good on the defencive side of things but hitting and getting points are somethings that we struggle with. But We can do it! so far we are 0-2 but it is still early on in the season! I have been having fun.

well I should get back to trying to finish my home work and think of a paper topic... have a nice evening!
MP

Blogger over hall

Hello Friends-

It has been ages since I last wrote here in blogger. My last few blogs were lame so I deleted them. Sorry for that. I must have been out of it.

Well i think it is time for an over hall of my blogger account. So over the next few days/weeks I am going to be working on a lot of things. Do not be surprised if you see less blogs on my archives.

For the mean time I will leave you with a bit of an update. My life has been quite busy lately and a lot of changes for me as well.

The big news:
I almost graduated now in May. I walked for the graduation and after a summer class I will officially graduate in August.

I got a teaching Job at a catholic school were I get to teach K-8 general music and do the music for the student Mass once a week.

So that is my big news. Other than that I am just enjoying my summer.
summer plans:
*Read for my summer class and hw assignments
*baby sit my 3 cousins (involves a lot of playing star wars, playing Wii Mario cart, boxing and bowing video games, playing with side walk chalk and reading books.)
*lesson planning
*exercising (running, Wii fit, swimming and just maybe wall climbing)
*Maybe a family vacation some were in the u.s.
*Summer softball! go Roots!

so basically i am taking it easy and getting ready for my new job....

well have a nice evening

MP

Deep dark secret

Greetings friends-
Hope all is well.
Okay I have a deep dark secret to tell... I get the weekly starwars.com Homing Beacon e-mails. Okay it is a bit geeky but I thought that this weeks was quite funny/cool. Here it is.




Homing Beacon #198‏






"Luke Skywalker's original Jedi lightsaber, the famous movie prop from the Star Wars saga is now aboard space shuttle Discovery as it waits for its scheduled October 23rd launch at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
The Jedi lightsaber has been carefully stowed away and will travel into space with the seven STS-120 astronauts to the International Space Station before returning to Earth 14 days (and six million miles) later to mark the legendary film's 30th anniversary.
During the two-week mission, Star Wars fans will be able to leave their best wishes to the space shuttle astronauts. Be sure to check http://www.starwars.com/ over the next few days for more information on how you can get a message to the shuttle crew and what the plans are for the lightsaber upon its return to Earth.
In the meantime, you can watch how the lightsaber's journey began as it left Lucasfilm's headquarters on its way to NASA in this video: http://www.starwars.com/video/view/000545.html"

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?

trip to New Mexico-Adventures at Walmart part 2

Hello-
well last week I had gone on a trip to new Mexico. I got to see things i have never seen and re visit the places I went to when I was a little kid. It was quite fun to go on that family vacation. If you want to see pictures of it you can look on my other blog http://mylifepicproject.blogspot.com/

Well I must tell you all about this one incident that happened to us when we were in Espanola new Mexico. My family Visited the church in Chimayo and after we decided to go to WalMart for some pillows for my sister.

I dislike going into Walmarts. they make me claustrophobic and I find that that store no matter where it is you will always find Mean, cranky, rude people with bratty kids running around in mass quantity. Maybe this is just me but this is what I observe. If you are looking for an excuse to get mad i say go to walmart. It is just burning with hatred. well I can tell you that it is no different in New Mexico. You find the same kind of people in the walmart store there as you do here in Colorado. I think they need to work on calming people down while they shop...

My poor sister felt the Wrath of some very rude and angry man as we were checking out from the store. Joy had gotten in line before my mom and I did. we found her and she gestured for us to come in line with her too. I was a bit hesitant about this because we all were paying separate and I saw she had someone behind her and we would be cutting him in line : I know I hate it when people do that to me. She saw that I was a bit hesitant and told me that she will pay for my Yarn and I could pay her back. So we did this. well my mom put her stuff up to be rung up and I put the little separator thing down after her stuff and the man that was behind Joy decided to push his shopping cart into joy's foot and leg to get her attention. He started to yell at her "Hey I thought you were all one order, put them all together." I quickly told my mom that that man was angry at us and she just paid for all our things to shut him up. Joy turned to him and said something like "you don't need to push your cart into me Sir. That is my mom and my sister." and he was all like "I don't care who they are." well lets just say he was very angry at us. We decided that he must have some other issues in his life and he is having a hard time dealing with them. We just pray that he does not hurt any other person.

Man I dislike Walmart...

the Yellow brick road of life

Taking for granted

It seems through life that at some point we wonder what our propose is here. I have not an answer to this but it is important to cherish all the little things in life. There is just so many glorious things around you that you may take for granted.

Have you ever just do what they say and stop to smell the roses; sat in a quite room with the window open and listen to the song bird sing? How about look down on the path you are walking on and see the little Rollie pollie bugs march on by you feet or the big beautiful butterflies flutter gracefully in the sky and wonder what adventure they are off to that day? I know this sounds a bit like dribble but let me tell you, you are given a life to live. You are faced with many choices in you life and what you do with them is what can determine you to live a happy and peaceful life or not. I am guilty of taking things for granted like a friendship, love, nature. There is truly so many things in life to pay attention to really. Many seem important at the time but what are you really sacrificing? Is what you are doing really worth it?

This might sound funny but try this experiment out with me and let me know what you think. Notice some little detail about the environment you are in or people around you and see/hear/taste/feel; if you can try and find out something beautiful about it. trust me it will change at how you view things in life. Remember though don't be so quick to judge for you will miss out on the great beauty that is around you.

Self acceptance

I am no expert in self acceptance but I do find it something that one should look at. It may seem a bit self absorbing to do this, however if you find that you are in a place were you feel like you do not belong listen up. Look inside your self for you will find great power. Like my mom always told me "God does not make junk." You need to believe, love, and trust your self as well as others. You also need to be courageous. It is okay to be different. This is probably one of the harder things in life to admit to because it is only natural as humans to want to fit in and be loved basically. So we sacrifice little parts of our self here and there and mold our selves to be something that we are not. Why try to be a clone when you are a unique and beautiful person. this was a hard lesson that I learned as a small child.

I remember when I was little trying oh so hard to be like my sister Joy because I felt like I did not fit in with my family and she did. My mom and sister, who I mostly hung around, seemed to be so smart, organized and successful. They also got along so well and I would see my sister getting awards left and right for doing well in school. My sister was even in the International Baccalaureate program in high school as well as doing many other activities. So I would work so hard to try and be like them because I thought that if I was like them then I could have all of them traits too and be liked.

Well i very quickly realized that I am not like them. I am not super smart like my sis, I am not nearly as organized, and i was not very successful and really anything. I cried a lot because I was different. I did not like it. Even to this day I know I am different and it is a hard pill to swallow but I open wide and swallow that enormous bitter pill. I am not like my sister or mother who I love and look up to, I am just goofy me and I am proud to be. There are so many things that I am not and I do not know about you but I tend to focus on them bad traits which brings me down a bit. I am still learning how to be more self accepting but it is a long journey. Kind of like the never ending Yellow brick road on wizard of OZ. It seems to never end and you are faced with challenges, set backs and decisions but then at the end of the path is your goal, Happiness. So go forth and reach the end to your path. Life is short so live it.

-Manda Panda

a walk in my moccasins-A refection

Hello all. Well School is winding down to an end. This is the last week before finals also known as Dead week. Not too long ago I was writing my scholarship renewal essay for my First generation Scholarship. This has gotten me to think about my experiences in life and made me realise how lucky I am to actually be here and to be able to experience so many things in my life.

Not many people know who I truly am. This is partly because I am afraid of what they will think of me. But I am not afraid any more. I have discovered that by sharing who I am not only makes me a confident person but gives others a chance to learn from my experiences too. So I want to let you take a walk in my moccasins.

Every person has a unique life story. Some are happy, some are sad. Mine is a little of both. People know I am a Music Ed student at CSU and that I play the cello and I love to knit and sew and dance and sing and watch movies. I am apparently know for my smile because that is what I do a lot and that I am happy most of the time. These are only thing that I allow people to see, some sort of mask that I have developed. Yes theses are things are still apart of me but it is not really who I am.

I am Amanda and I am 21 non drinker and non smoker. I have an Amazing mother, a father who is disabled for 21 years now and who is a true insperation and an older sister who I absolutely love and wish that I could be as good as her. I have 2 cute cats, named Hannah and Daisy Mae. I am a proud Catholic. In both sides of my family I am the only one who is actually going to college for music. I hope to change this fact. I have some family members who sing or play guitar but never had hard core training-they mostly sing Mexican music or play in a rock band.

Mexican music is part of my Heritage. I grew up with my Grandpo (on my mom's side) playing his guitar to us grand kids singing Mexican music and him telling us stories some of them of when he was a kid Growing up in New Mexico on his families cattle ranch or old Mexican folk tales. they would be in Spanglish of course. My Grandparents on my mom's side did not go very far in school because they have always worked. My Grandpa went up to the 6th grade i think and my Grandma only the 3rd grade. Hard to believe this but they did and they worked as migrant field workers and odd jobs here and there all their lives up and down Colorado and New Mexico. As i was growing up my Grandma worked at a Nursing home as a CNA and my Grandpa was retired from King Soopers. I did not really know my Grandparents on my fathers side. My Grandma Vicki died when I was 2 and my Grandpa Tony was not in the picture and died when I was 8 or 9 I think. I am mostly close with my mom's side of the family.

So I am a first generation Student here at CSU. both of my parents went as far as High School and it was a big deal for them to graduate and make it that far. Now I get a chance to be apart of the first generation to go to college and graduate. If it was not for my Mother who would tell my sister and I that we need to go to college and get that degree I do not know where I would have ended up at. In the 4 years that I have been here, I have meet some wonderful and not so wonderful people but mostly wonderful. I have gotten to see the beginnings of a great incoming conductor named Wes Kenny. He started here my freshman year and man was the orchestra not at the level it is now. I have got to see world class musicians play and those who are working diligently to master their instruments. I got to play on Museum piece instruments, conduct an orchestra and band. I have gotten to see my dream come true and getting to teach something that I love to others and share the Joy and power that music has with them. Every day I am here I work hard just so that I can be happy and soak up as much information that I can so that I can carve my way through life.

well I think that sums me up for the most part. Thank you if you have read this note of mine. I just had get out of my box of an image I have created and writing is the best way I know how to fill that box. I hope all of you have the best of luck with finals have a nice day.

Fun times

I know last week I was Raving about swing dancing and this week I am going to again. I just can not help it. I got to dance tonight with so many good dancers. It was so cool. I was doing things that I have never imagined that I would be doing. I got to dance with this one guy named Sean (sp?) He has been dancing for a long time i guess. I just loved watching his facial expressions, But I must say dancing with him was AMAZING! I love what he told me. "It's OK if you mess up. Dancing is just suppose to be fun." and that is how he danced. for fun. he twirled, turned, swung me around and there was a point in time were I felt like i was flying. When you dance the girls have to trust their partner a lot. were ever they lead you you follow even if you have no clue what they are doing, they know what they are doing and you have to trust them.

I got to dance with this older guy he had to be about 56 (he said he graduated from CSU in 1972) but he use to teach people how to dance like the fox trot and the Jitter bug and other dances. well I got to dance with him and he taught me about frame and how to follow your partner and I learned the Fox trot -all kinds of cool stuff. I also got to dance with my friend Eddie. He is really good too and he taught me the jive and i was teaching him some tap dancing moves. (yes I got some dance moves up my selves too).

well besides dancing today i had departmental recital with my trio. I think it went very well. we now know what it feels like to play in a larger room. :) I have not been too focused on HW today. for the past 2 days I have been doing paper after paper after planning lessons to teach ect... so I needed to get out and have some fun.

If you are interested in going with me Next WED it is the last dance before finals. it is totally free. it is going to be at the Lory Student Center near sweet sensations. it starts at 7:15 with lessons on how to dance and then they have a dance after were you can try out your new moves. it is a blast. :)-Manda Panda

I am in Love

Hello all. sorry i have not written in awhile. I have just been so busy with concerts lots and lots of dress rehearsals, homework and teaching that I have not had time to write. I have had 2 major concerts, steel band and Symphonic Orchestra. Steel band Rehearsals kicked my butt because we rehearsed outside/during class about 21 hours from March 23-April 6 and then we had our concert on the 6th. that is a lot of standing up BUt we sounded the best yet. It was such a blast to play. The orchestra concert was great last week only my back started to give me trouble from over use. I have been having to carry a really heavy backpack, my cello and Viola around campus. Some times all at once or a combination of them. I felt like a pack horse. I have been living off of PPJ most days because I have class after class after class. sometimes I do not get to eat anything at all. :( but thing are getting better. Next week I have 4 concerts so we will have to see how this works out.

Now I titled this Blog I am in love because I found a new interest. I love to swing dance. It is so much fun! here is a little of what the kids who sing dance here at CSU can do.



I learned how to do the basic Charleston and the basic Lindy Hop. I think the best part was being dipped and doing a "frog jump" and turns. I just had a blast. Hey guys here is a helpful hint. Girls love to dance and they need a partner. so learn how to dance and you might even get a girl. *wink* I was really impressed by all the very good dancers at the swing dancing club. and some of them had only done it for 7-8 months and they are just impressive. I think I am going to take up swing dancing or ballroom dancing over the summer. *Grin*

good gone to bad--lost...lost

Don't you just hate it when a good day goes sour by one event? I was having such a good morning this morning. I got 8 hours of sleep (which is very rare in my life), I had a good breakfast, got to observe at an elementary school for my music ed class. then it happened...I noticed that my beautiful butterfly necklace that i always have on was missing. (see the picture) All i had around my neck was my chain. This has made me very sad. I went looking for it but I cannot find it. I remember still having it when i was at the elementary school, but somewhere from there to here in my room it has been lost forever. :(

This necklace was very special to me because my Nina (godmother) gave it to me for my 21st birthday this last summer and I love butterflies. I know it is only a material thing but it has grown to become part of me. my special something that hung around my neck and has traveled many miles with me. I wish I still had it but it flew out of my life. I hope if it is found it will bring that person as much joy as it has brought me.

Bitter sweet

If you saw me last week I was not doing very well. I ended up with a really bad head cold. I am still getting over it but i am doing much better.

Friday was so awesome. I had to teach and since i was not feeling very good, Kevin, a singer from my ed class who also was teaching 1/2nd grade helped me teach. Team teaching is kind of fun because you have more than your self to entertain the students. But at the end of the 45 min class, I had 5 kids come up to me and gave me hugs telling me not to leave them. (I was leaving them because in my ed class we have to switch classes to get experience with different age levels.) I realized then that I have grown attached to them kids. They are all so amazing. What they pick up on and how different they all are. still discovering what life is about, it is just so wonderful to be around. I get to teach 3/4th graders this week. I am not sure how this is going to work. It will be tuff to pick up from what another person has set up in the class.

Friday was a sad end to the day. One of my second cousins died. He died of Leukemia and of phenomena at the age of 54. It is sad that we have to lose such wonderful people. I guess that is why we have to treasure life and those around us because you never know when God will call them to join Him in heaven.

Yesterday (Sat.) I when to the Denver march pow wow. I go almost every year with my parents since before i was born. I love going to the pow wow and seeing so many people that look like I do and take part in my heritage. I love the beautiful bead work, dancing, drums and Indian Fry bread. I think that Indian Fry bread is so good. But it is sad that it is not very good for you. If you did not know I am Native American as part of my heritage. 1/8 Apache, and pueblo Indian. I am also Spanish and French. I have always taken an interest in my Native American side. I see a lot of my family traditions are traditions that have been passed down from the Native American Roots. I think it is really cool to be able to see what things survive through out the years. It seems like I come from a long line of story tellers. My family Loves to tell stories. We have so many why not share them. I just wish that a lot of them had been written down so that they could be documented and captured. a lot of them are so charming. hey if you want to see pictures of the pow wow they are posted up on my other blog. "A year in Pictures"

Well I better do some HW and enjoy the rest of my evening.