I've decided to continue my blog at least temporarily. I've tossed around the idea of starting a new one, perhaps one of essays, possibly fiction...I'm not sure. (I've always been a little wary of posting my fiction online, so I probably won't choose that option.) Until I decide, however, I'll keep up with this one in a similar way as I have in the past.

And now that I've explained my decision, I've forgotten what I wanted to write about in this entry. :-P I'm sure I look smart now.

Simply put, a lot has changed since my posts of about two years ago. At that point, I was in a Masters' program at Loyola for educational psychology, while working as a paraprofessional. I am still at the same job, but have decided to take a completely different career path and have since started a program in Library and Information Science at Dominican. I've also been playing in a local orchestra, which is something I have been immensely glad to do. There was a short period of time where, between going to school downtown and working that I did not have time to play in an ensemble, and it was making me crazy. It was some weird kind of withdrawal for me. I had been playing in some kind of ensemble since I starting playing in third grade, so not being in one was very strange. I didn't realize what a gap it left in my life to not be part of an ensemble. But, as luck would have it, I was able to join a local group about a year ago (!) and am loving every minute of it.

So why not update on that? We recently played a concert consisting of Bartok's "Concerto for Orchestra", "Prayers of Kierkegaard" by Barber, and "Tales of a Traveler" by Sousa. Definitely a challenging program. Next up...

(I'm so excited!)...

...BEETHOVEN'S 9TH!!! (Along with Ah Perfido and Egmont Overture.) I'm psyched. I've been listening to my recording of the 9th so I can get it all in my head and be ready for the first rehearsal.

Whoo! :-) This one will be fantastic. The 9th is, undoubtably, one of the best pieces of music out there. I'm so happy to have the opportunity to perform it!