I know it’s been a while since I last wrote… BUT I do have a good excuse. Well, not good… but you’ll understand the necessity. It was school…. yes, it is that time of year. The teachers load on the projects and papers the week before the hardest exams EVER! And if you thought that was hard, Christmas is the hardest time of year for musicians. It’s Christmas concert after Christmas concert!!!! I have 3, (yes THREE) this weekend. one last night and two today.(sigh) Life could be worse. And really, it is only getting better. Because as I am working through the stress of these last two weeks, time is still passing. Soon enough this semester will be over!!! And I will no longer be forced to submit to those classes involving music theory, sight singing and ear training, and musical perspectives. Christmas vacation looks sweeter and sweeter every day!

Anyway, I will do my best to continue to let you know the interesting parts that unveil themselves in these next two weeks.

Stay tuned… heightened emotional events anticipated.

Going to watch Home Alone before it’s time to get ready for concerts… to help bring the Christmas mood alive.

Here I am on the eve of the day where dieters rebel, eat as much as they want and then feel guilty until Christmas. But it’s so much more than a day to eat tons of food… it is a day to be thankful of all the blessings we are given… big and small. I intend to do my part by acknowledging those things for which I am thankful…

I, Aris Haines, am officially thankful for the following as of 5:31 pm ( mountain time) on this Eve of Thanksgiving, November 24, 2004:

My cat, Precious… who stuck with me through thick and thicker, when I disowned her for a stupid guy, and who loves me in spite of the fact that she’s seen me at my worst.

Tweezers, for without which I would have an unsightly unibrow, and true- a lot less pain and agony in my life. But who wants a unibrow?

My roommate, Megan… who laughs at me. Well, with me too… but mostly just at me. And who is there when I need a shoulder to cry on, or chocolate to help me eat my sorrow away. She has been there to help me through more times than I can count, and I don’t know what i would do without her.

My family. Cause they just ROCK MY FACE OFF!

Comic Strips ( see yesterday’s blog), because they provide a ray of sunshine in a sometimes very bleak world.

The fact that i’m done with my JET program application!!!!! ( this is the application I have filled out so that I can go to Japan for a year and teach English to japanese kids, while living in Japan…. awesome huh?)

And lastly, but not least… I am EVER SO GREATEFUL that I am graduating May 7, 2005 from college, and I will never again have any papers or exams EVER EVER EVER again!!!!!! Well, at least while I’m in my right sound mind.

ok, that is all. I hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving! Try not to miss me, I’m leaving for 3 days to go skiing tomorrow. I’ll be back Saturday night….

Cleaning Log: Star Date 00595-874-2

I’m still watching the Santa Clause. SUCH a GREAT movie.
I’ve only made a dent in the large pile of mess that is my room.

Decided about 30 minutes into the movie and cleaning, that my eyebrows required MAJOR trimming adjustments. (When did it become socially acceptable to rip small pieces of hair from one’s body? WHO decided this was OK?! It HURTS!)

Eyebrows successfully mowed… moved back to cleaning.
Put first load of laundry into washer.

Made a glass of Nesquick chocolate milk to help ease the pain of throbbing eyebrows.

Decided that there are little men hiding under my bed who keep adding clothing and mess to my room whenever I leave. Only explanation possible for why this is taking so long.

Must…. finish…..soon. My very sanity depends on this!