20 years ago: I was in kindergarten at Adams Elementary. We had barely moved into our new house, although it wasn't close to being finished. David was my best bud, I was a chubby little ballerina, and I loved to read.
10 years ago: I was a sophomore at Madison High School. I was as social as my parents would let me be with a huge group of friends. I was in school orchestra, youth symphony, and I was taking private violin lessons (although I never practiced!). I was 15 through my whole sophomore year of high school, so I never got to date. I wasn't even old enough for the homecoming dance of my junior year!
5 years ago: I was just finishing up my junior year at BYU-Idaho. It was a good year. I won the concerto competition at BYU-Idaho, the Young Artists Competition in Coeur D'Alene, and was accepted into the Grand Teton Music Festival. The chamber orchestra went on tour throughout the Northwest, where I became good friends with Stacy! I don't think I went on a single date that whole year because I was seriously involved with my viola.
3 years ago: My first year at CCM (University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music) working on my Masters in viola performance. It was tough being away from my family, but I did a lot of growing up that year. Once again, not much dating.
1 year ago: February 28,2007- I got engaged to my sweetie!! Tyler and I had been dating for just over four months. He proposed in the middle of a concert he was doing with his family. Both of our families were there, along with a bunch of strangers. It was somewhat embarrassing, but very cute.
Today: Life is very busy for the both of us, but we're very happy. We are working hard and making as much time as possible for each other.
I wonder what tomorrow will bring. . . .
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Saying No
I usually don't think of myself as someone who gets taken advantage of. I feel like a pretty independent person who sticks up for herself. Recently, however, I have been reading a book my mom gave me called Pulling Your Own Strings. This book talks about the many ways we are victimized by people around us. As I read this book, I am realizing that I allow myself to victimized way to often.
My mom has often bugged me about this. People ask me to do things, and even if I don't really have time, I almost always say yes. I guess it's this subconscious desire to not let anyone down. Most of the time I really don't mind doing these things, but it often leaves me stretched thin and feeling too busy to do anything for myself. Other times, however, I really start to feel taken advantage of.
This year I have felt victimized several times. Unfortunately, both of them have been connected to music, and the experiences have diminished my desire for that aspect of music, which makes me really sad. The frustrating thing is that now I know I'm being victimized, I know what I should do, but I feel like I can't! I am currently in a situation where I have volunteered my time and talents to someone who has, in return, made me feel like I have to continue volunteering indefinitely or I will disappoint everyone involved. Also, while I am volunteering my time, this person treats everyone with condescension and distaste. I do not deserve to be treated like this! Grrrrr. Very frustrating.
I think I just need to start with baby steps. I'm not showing up this week because the schedule was changed at the last minute, without anyone telling me, and I have something else I would much rather be doing. I'll keep going after that for now, and we'll see what happens.
Thank you for letting me vent. Have a nice day.
My mom has often bugged me about this. People ask me to do things, and even if I don't really have time, I almost always say yes. I guess it's this subconscious desire to not let anyone down. Most of the time I really don't mind doing these things, but it often leaves me stretched thin and feeling too busy to do anything for myself. Other times, however, I really start to feel taken advantage of.
This year I have felt victimized several times. Unfortunately, both of them have been connected to music, and the experiences have diminished my desire for that aspect of music, which makes me really sad. The frustrating thing is that now I know I'm being victimized, I know what I should do, but I feel like I can't! I am currently in a situation where I have volunteered my time and talents to someone who has, in return, made me feel like I have to continue volunteering indefinitely or I will disappoint everyone involved. Also, while I am volunteering my time, this person treats everyone with condescension and distaste. I do not deserve to be treated like this! Grrrrr. Very frustrating.
I think I just need to start with baby steps. I'm not showing up this week because the schedule was changed at the last minute, without anyone telling me, and I have something else I would much rather be doing. I'll keep going after that for now, and we'll see what happens.
Thank you for letting me vent. Have a nice day.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Cereal Party
We are so happy that Monday is a holiday! A three-day weekend is just what we needed to catch up on things. We spent all day yesterday cleaning, working on projects, and going to the gym, so we decided to reward ourselves with a movie night.
We are signed up with Netflix, which is an online movie rental place where you can have the movie for as long as you want. That is a good thing, because our Clear Play filter has been giving us a few problems, so we have had The Bourne Identity sitting in our living room for over a month. We finally got things fixed, so we watched it last night.
We weren't really in the mood for an actual dinner, so we had a cereal party! It was fun watching the movie with Tyler's fancy sound system, a warm blanket, and lots of yummy cereal.
We are signed up with Netflix, which is an online movie rental place where you can have the movie for as long as you want. That is a good thing, because our Clear Play filter has been giving us a few problems, so we have had The Bourne Identity sitting in our living room for over a month. We finally got things fixed, so we watched it last night.
We weren't really in the mood for an actual dinner, so we had a cereal party! It was fun watching the movie with Tyler's fancy sound system, a warm blanket, and lots of yummy cereal.
Valentine's Day
Life has been quite busy lately for the McNiven clan! Last weekend I was in Pocatello for a doctoral seminar, and drove up just in time for the Temple Celebration on Saturday. Since Tyler did a lot of recording projects for it, we were given 3 tickets to attend the actual performance. We brought my mom along, and she got some pretty great pictures!
This was the pipe moving dance. It was hilarious, and so Idaho!!
The dedication on Sunday morning was incredible. We were so glad that we were able to rearrange our schedule once the dedication got moved when President Hinckley passed away. As soon as the dedication was over, Tyler caught a flight down to Nevada for a concert his family was doing. He came back on Tuesday night, and we've been trying to catch up on life ever since!
Valentine's Day was wonderful. Tyler was so sweet and gave me flowers and Florence's chocolates (yummmm!). He knows daisies are my favorite flower. They're so happy, and they last much longer than roses!
Tyler put his boys in charge of the orchestra concert that was going on that night, and we had dinner at Johnny's, our favorite place! We even splurged on Italian creme sodas. Thanks for a great Valentine's Day honey! I love you!
This was the pipe moving dance. It was hilarious, and so Idaho!!
The dedication on Sunday morning was incredible. We were so glad that we were able to rearrange our schedule once the dedication got moved when President Hinckley passed away. As soon as the dedication was over, Tyler caught a flight down to Nevada for a concert his family was doing. He came back on Tuesday night, and we've been trying to catch up on life ever since!
Valentine's Day was wonderful. Tyler was so sweet and gave me flowers and Florence's chocolates (yummmm!). He knows daisies are my favorite flower. They're so happy, and they last much longer than roses!
Tyler put his boys in charge of the orchestra concert that was going on that night, and we had dinner at Johnny's, our favorite place! We even splurged on Italian creme sodas. Thanks for a great Valentine's Day honey! I love you!
Friday, February 8, 2008
Bag Tag
I've been tagged once again! This time by Leslie, my sister-in-law's twin sister. This one is a little different. Here are the rules: 1. you have to show your bag
2. you have to show all the contents in your bag-without cleaning out first
3. tag 5 other people.
Here is the purse I take everywhere with me:
The contents:
1. My I-Pod and headphones- Used in my music classes and at the gym
2. Metronome- I plugged it into the classroom speakers yesterday for Ear Training class.
3. Library reciept
4. Toothpaste
5. Assorted pens and pencils
6. Undeveloped roll of film from my old camera
7. Bobby pins
8. Bag of sugar-free candy to keep me from pigging out all day.
9. 4 pennies
10. One glove (I think the other one is in my other bag)
11. My cell phone
12. Dry-erase marker- I hate having a marker that doesn't work when I teach Ear Training, so I bring my own.
I know, some of that stuff was a little weird, but that's me. I tag whoever wants to show everyone how weird or cluttered you are!
2. you have to show all the contents in your bag-without cleaning out first
3. tag 5 other people.
Here is the purse I take everywhere with me:
The contents:
1. My I-Pod and headphones- Used in my music classes and at the gym
2. Metronome- I plugged it into the classroom speakers yesterday for Ear Training class.
3. Library reciept
4. Toothpaste
5. Assorted pens and pencils
6. Undeveloped roll of film from my old camera
7. Bobby pins
8. Bag of sugar-free candy to keep me from pigging out all day.
9. 4 pennies
10. One glove (I think the other one is in my other bag)
11. My cell phone
12. Dry-erase marker- I hate having a marker that doesn't work when I teach Ear Training, so I bring my own.
I know, some of that stuff was a little weird, but that's me. I tag whoever wants to show everyone how weird or cluttered you are!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Buried in Blessings
The community of Rexburg and the surrounding areas have been praying for moisture for several years. It seems like we are always in a drought. Last fall Tyler and I were driving to his parent's house and passed Palisades Reservoir. It was so pathetic looking! It looked like a big hole in the ground.
This winter has been a great blessing. We have received more snow than I can remember getting in a long time. We have had several good snowstorms, and it seems like almost every morning we wake up to a fresh layer of snow. The "water authorities" are hopeful, but they say we still need more snow in order to have enough for the upcoming season.
As much as we have been praying for this snow, I sure hear a lot of complaining about it! I admit, when Tyler and I spent hours on end shoveling our driveway and sidewalk, I am tempted to complain. Then I think to myself, "We prayed for this, right?".
This is also my first winter with my own driveway, so I am acutely aware of the moisture. We are grateful for it, though, even if we are running out of places to put it!
This winter has been a great blessing. We have received more snow than I can remember getting in a long time. We have had several good snowstorms, and it seems like almost every morning we wake up to a fresh layer of snow. The "water authorities" are hopeful, but they say we still need more snow in order to have enough for the upcoming season.
As much as we have been praying for this snow, I sure hear a lot of complaining about it! I admit, when Tyler and I spent hours on end shoveling our driveway and sidewalk, I am tempted to complain. Then I think to myself, "We prayed for this, right?".
This is also my first winter with my own driveway, so I am acutely aware of the moisture. We are grateful for it, though, even if we are running out of places to put it!
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