Weekend Update

Weekend Update:

Last week, I was working frantically to finish our group project/presentation. I was so frustrated on Thursday, that I took an "angry walk." I ran into our dean of students, who asked me what I was doing and I told him that I was taking an "angry walk." We graduated from the same school back in 2002, but we were in slightly different programs, so I know him, but not that well. So he asked if it was because of someone or something at work, I said, "no," and proceeded to tell him about how awful my group was for this project. I totally cried, which means I'm REALLY stressed out, and I was feeling kind of awkward about it. The dean just listened and he was short on time, so he had to go.

After that, I felt a little better. More calm, but still anxious about it. On Friday, our group had an online meeting, and the one guy in our group refused to participate. He was totally ignoring me. It was so passive aggressive and childish. The other group member and I were worried because our presentation was supposed to be 20 minutes long, and we had no idea what he was going to say because he wasn't communicating with us.

Thankfully, we presented second, and it went smoothly, although I would say that it could have been much better. However, the content was good, and our classmates were receptive. Then the professor emailed me and said we did a good job. Fine, but the guy in our group did not present what we asked him to. But it is over.

The instructor let us out a couple hours early, so I called my grandma to see if she was home. She was, and we went shopping because I had to kill some time before a rehearsal I needed to go to in Oceanside for the wedding I'm playing in next weekend.

Then I went to the rehearsal. It was so fun. I told one of the girls that I just was amazed by how far along we have come as musicians (she and I played together in Junior High), that we could basically sit down and sight read Beethoven and make it sound good without much practice. I love this piece. It sounds so cool. And yes, it could use a bit of polishing, but it sounds pretty good for the minimal amount of practicing we've all done.

Then today, I played in a music video at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad. It was a beautiful day. I wish I could have spent the whole day outside. Here's why: Typically in May in San Diego, the weather is quite cloudy and/or foggy in the morning. The sun will come out in the afternoon, and then the fog will roll back in. Today, however, the day started out hot. It was perfect. The flower fields are amazing. Those of us who were in the shoot were wearing white and/or khaki. It looks so surreal. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to participate in this project.

Now, I'm back working at the library, and dreading the next paper I need to write in the next 2 1/2 days. But I'm really glad I took the break, by hangin' with my grandma, and going to the flower fields. I'm feeling less dread about the paper.

What this reminds me is that it is so good and necessary to take breaks from the hard things in life, and just breathe deeply, and enjoy the time we have on this Earth. I'm so thankful for this weekend, glad that my project is done, and I'm now ready to face the challenge of finishing this semester. Not as strong as I would have liked, but strong enough.