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