Shawn (a dear friend and our photographer for the wedding) is slowly getting wedding pictures posted, so I will post again soon to let you know where you can view them.  I'll get some physical pictures printed out as soon as possible, as well, to share with everyone.  I'm so excited! :)

I'm off to go lay out in the sun for a bit to take a little nap and work on my tan. :)  Take care, everyone, and I will talk to you all soon.

And I leave you this time with a sneak peak of one of our pics! :)

Oh, there is so much to say about all that has occurred since last I posted a journal entry! My reason for choosing now to post is to let everyone know how happy I am. Andy and I were married yesterday, Saturday, June 17th. It was a beautiful wedding, and I can't imagine it being any more perfect, nor it being with a more perfect match for me. He thrills me and brings me indescribable happiness.  :)

I will leave you with the song that we had our first dance to at the reception, I Will Love You, by Fisher.  (I urge you to go to their myspace page http://www.myspace.com/fisher and listen to it, if you haven't heard it already!)  It was coupled with Chances Are, by Bob Seger and Martina McBride, which was officially "our song."  I Will Love You is a song I claimed long ago (from the moment I first heard it) would be played at my wedding.  It just describes love in such a unique, beatiful, and perfect way.  It describes how I feel for Andy, and it was amazing to dance with him and to be close to him, looking in his eyes while the beauty of the words, the piano, and her voice echoed our reception hall.  

I love you with all of my heart, Andy, and I am honoured to finally be your wife, take your name, and start our journey in life together as man and wife.  Our life, as man and wife, has just begun (though not much has actually changed to make it feel too much different), and the building has begun on a forever full of happiness.





I Will Love You
by Fisher

'Til my body is dust
'til my soul is no more
I will love you - love you
'Til the sun starts to cry
and the moon turns to rust
I will love you - love you

But I need to know
will you stay for all time
forever and a day
Then I'll give my heart
'til the end of all time
forever and a day
But I need to know
will you stay for all time
forever and a day

Then I'll give my heart
'til the end of all time
forever and a day

'Til the storms fill my eyes
and we touch the last time
I will love you - love you

So, thanks cato, I came across a cool website. I vaguely remember studying the Johari Window a couple of years ago in one of my online classes.  Check it out when you get a couple of minutes. It's quite interesting...

                                                                   tell me who you think I am....

So I'm sitting at work, and I decdided it's about time I posted an update. Aren't you all just thrilled beyond containment? :P

I dare not trick you into thinking I'm chipper, though, for today I've been rather sullen. I can't pinpoint the cause, exactly, but I think a lot of it has to do with the uneventful days I've had at work lately.  While I absolutely adore this remarkable weather, it's not good for the propane business. That causes our drivers to be delivering fewer gallons to fewer customers, which then leads me to having hardly anything to occupy my days at work. To an extent it's relaxing, void of stress, but after weeks of spending a large percentage of my day without "work" to do, it almost becomes more unpleasant.  Thank goodness Andy bought me my iriver for Christmas, or I'd be twice the lunatic I already am.  And I know that could scare a few of you to traumatic levels...it should, dammit.  :)

As if the world needs reminding, I'm as in love as ever. Andy has been endlessly perfect for me...even when I'm a royal bitch.  I'm constantly trying to better myself, for both my own sake...and so that I can justify why and how much he loves and adores me.  While none of that is truly necessary, I'm consumed by love, which only leads me to wanting to be the very best I can be for him. It's the least I can do for someone who's planning on putting up with me forever. :) And oh how I look forward to spending forever with him. Love is so exciting...still...and always.

I got a phone call from an old friend from high school this last weekend. It was quite unexpected...and welcomed more than she'll ever know.  We were best friends from 7th grade through high school, and then we kind of went our separate ways. We got back in touch every now and then, but nothing that last more than a few months at a time. We lost touch this last time about 16 months ago. I truly hope we can find a way to bond again and develop a strong friendship again. She's truly a wonderful person, and it's almost amusing the parallels between our current lives.  :)  I look forward to meeting up with her soon. Perhaps there is hope yet that I'll have a good female friend to spend some time with. :)  Plus, I think it would be fun to do all that double-dating stuff with our uber significant others. :)

All right, I've killed an hour, and it's almost time to go home, so I'll write later. Take care all...

My name is Stephanie, and I'm a Sonic slush-aholic.  :)  Lemon-berry slushes from sonic are so delicious.  I don't know what I'd do without them.

I've quite enjoyed wrapping gifts this year.  I like making the bows from pretty ribbon. I am worried that since I haven't finished my Christmas shopping yet that I might not get it done.  That would make me sad!  :(

And "Suede" is a really odd Tori song.  The live, piano version of 3 a.m. by Matchbox 20 is such a beautiful song.  I enjoy listening to Andy sing along with it when we listen to it together.  :P

Chloe actually climbed the Christmas tree this morning.  That's what I get for falling asleep cuddled with her on the couch so late at night.  Oh well, I couldn't stand being truly angry at her after it happened.  I was probably more annoyed that it actually woke me up at 8:45, after not falling asleep until after 5 a.m.  :P

I want to skip ahead to spring.  This cold, snowy weather isn't my bag at all.  Blah!

I do so adore the scent of my Christmas tree.  :)  I'm excited for Christmas to be here.  I still have that warm cozy feeling about me, in regards to the holidays.  It's a welcomed change, most definitely.  :)

All right, folks, enough of my randomness for tonight.  I'm satisfied with the events of the day, and now it's time to sleep.  Goodnight!

Some of you might notice that I haven't posted in quite some time now. Who knows, maybe no one really noticed! :) Either way, ready or not, here I am...again! :)

I won't even begin to enlighten and/or burden you all with the details of the on-goings of the last few months or so. First of all, there are certain people it might negatively affect. That is the most important issue. Another reason is simply that it would take WAY too long to accurately articulate the complexities that this lapse of time consisted of. Those of you close to me in my life know enough anyway.  :)

I'm doing my best to keep myself from bursting with giddiness right now, so I must speak of the new love I've found. I shall warn you right now that you'll be completely sick to your stomach if you listen to even half of all I could possibly have to say about how wonderful he is...and about how wonderful WE are. So cover your eyes, cover your ears...whatever you must do to prevent that sickness from coming over you.  :)

With the new love of my life, I keep wondering if we'll reach some cap on greatness or something. You know...that point where it's great, but it just isn't possible to be any greater than the way things are at that time...like any advancement of happiness and fulfillment just ISN"T going to occur. And I'll probably get a kick in the butt for even remotely thinking that, but it's the truth. Okay, so perhaps it's not QUITE like that. I'm just continuously awed by how much better things continue get every single day that we're together. He truly is THAT good to me. And we truly are THAT good together. So tell me that we're enamored by what we see through our rose-colored glasses, or whatever clever, yet somehow completely annoying, adage that might form at the tip of your tongue or fingers, but know that you'll fail to convince me that we're not truly perfect together. :) In our relatively short time together, we've already experienced so much. I think you'll find that he would agree. At least I'd hope so. :)

While I'm sitting here at the computer, my line of vision is graced with the lights of the Christmas tree in the corner of my living room. That reminds me of something I'd like to bring up. We went out and cut down our Christmas tree Saturday evening. I can't even begin to explain how pleased I was with that evening. I know it's the first of many Christmas trees we'll find and take home over the years, and it was such a satisfying experience. The comfort of being so sure of the opportunities we'll have in the future, to share moments such as that, is so overwhelming. And between him and the many other positive aspects of my life, I've discovered that long-lost Christmas spirit I've been hoping would reappear one of these days. It's such a warm feeling. I truly feel like I've been almost reborn. I'm still me, don't get me wrong. I still have my quirks and all, but I've found a new appreciation for life and a desire to live it to the fullest.  How could I NOT be happy? :)

He's home now, after an evening with his girlies, so I'm going to go enjoy the lemon-berry slush he kindly brought me...and hopefully get some cuddle time in before it's time to sleep. I hope you're all doing well and finding happiness in your lives, as well. :) Take care, and I'll write again soon!

Iron & Wine - Such Great Heights lyrics

I said my final farewells today to a friend who is off soon to Japan with fellow marines.  He'll be gone for 2 years...2 very long years.  It was good to see him again, the few special times I was priveleged with his presence while he was back on a short leave. 

I've promised to write him, though.  I do so love writing letters.  There's just something old-fashioned and "romantic" about writing letters.  (While the letters themselves don't have to be romantic, of course!)  Hopefully that'll give him something to look forward to...a little piece of home. I told him that I'll kick his ass if he doesn't write me!  Then I'd have to hunt him down in Japan to do so! :)  He thought that was amusing.  I do sincerely hope he writes, though!  I know his parents are the only ones who have written him so far (the last 2 times he was away...both his initial training...and then his MP training). 

He's been a marine now for 7 and a half months...and he's making his special place in the world! :)  I'm so proud of him, too...I think this has truly been the best decision of his life. 

I'm going to miss him, though.  Up until now, I knew he was only going to be gone for like 3 months at a time both times he left.  Now I won't get to hug him for 2 long years.  :( 

So wish him luck, every one.  Japan's a much preferable place compared to many other places I can imagine him departing to, but it is still a military job...and he is still there to do his duty for every free person in this country.  I'm proud...and I hope we can all appreciate the sacrifices yet another person has chosen to make for the sake of our individual freedoms. 

I'm going to miss him!   *HUGS Justin* 

Extraordinary Machine Lyrics              Extraordinary Machine Lyrics

Here's a link for you all, if you wish to check out the lyrics of the new Fiona album, Extraordinary Machine.  It's the only I could find without extreme pop-ups, so hopefully it will work okie.  Just click on any of the multiple links I've provided for your entertainment! :)  Enough preaching for now, though... :)  Have at it, folks! :)

Extraordinary Machine Lyrics              Extraordinary Machine Lyrics

Just...read this...  How much more fitting could she be?  Honestly!!!

Oh Well

by: Fiona Apple

What you did to me made me
See myself something different
Though I try to talk sense to myself
But I just won't listen

Won't you go away
Turned yourself in
You're no good at confession
Before the image that you burned me in
Tries to teach you a lesson

What you did to me made me see myself somethin' awful
A voice once stentorian is now again meek and muffled
It took me such a long time to get back up the first time you did it
I spent all I had to get it back, and now it seems I've been outbidded

My peace and quiet was stolen from me
When I was looking with calm affection
You were searching out my imperfections

What wasted unconditional love
On somebody
Who doesn't believe in the stuff

You came upon me like a hypnic jerk
When I was just about to settle
And when it counts you recoil
With the cryptic word you even love belittling

Oh what a cold and common old way to go
I was feeding on the need for you to know me
Devastated at the rate you fell below me

What wasted unconditional love
On somebody
Who doesn't believe in the stuff

Oh, well

I can't WAIT for Fiona's new album to be released...OMG!  I've only heard two of the songs on her new album, set for release on October 4th.  And while these two songs are enough to make me crave her ingenuity for the rest of my life, I hope my craving will subside in its intensity by the time I simply hear the rest of the album.  It's been 6 years since she last released new music.  If I can wait this long for 2 new songs, I suppose I can wait a little longer to hear 10 more.  In the meantime, her words shall keep me anticipating...and longing to hear the beauty in the music that accompanies them.  :)

                                          I <3 Fiona Apple!

This "baby" just grew up, dried her eyes, and rediscovered her sanity...her dignity...and a new beginning.

His condescending nature finally found the straw...that special, unique, final straw, that quite rapidly brought him his ticket to take away someone else's freedoms.
Sorry, captain oblivious, preach that nonsense elsewhere...on someone else's time.  I have a life to live...and love to catch.  Meet me in St. Louis, and I'll tell you how it's done.

I hurt for your lonliness, dear, but it will not be the end of me.  Far greater things lie in store for both you and I.  I do promise, however, to clap and cheer when your ship comes in.  But first you must find the right port!

So there's that...and and an introduction to the rest of my life.  I'm bound eternally to a longing for love, undeniably inside of me, with dreams of happiness yet to come.  Farewell to all that wish my dreams to come UNdone!

Bring me paper...I've got the pen.  Watch closely as the smiles begin...then...I'll know I was right...not in saying goodbye to him...but in saying hello to myself and to all the passion my soul craves to know.  That's how this story shall go...

What does one do when it's 7:45 a.m., they have to leave in an hour to be somewhere, and nothing available to them for breakfast sounds appetizing?  :)  Well, my friends, here is what I would do... :)
I, as I just did a short while ago, would find the nicest looking potato, wash it off with water, use a knife to cut some holes into it (so it doesn't explode), and then promptly bake a potato in the microwave.  :)  After it's done cooking, I would add just enough butter, onion powder, and black pepper to make it exquisite.  When it's ready, I would slowly consume it, to satisfy my hunger.  :)

And I'm so giddy about the stormy skies this beautiful morning, even though I wasn't thrilled to be awakened by my mother at 7 a.m. this morning, after just a few short hours of quite interrupted sleep (thanks to my mother and her morning protein smoothies).  I slept in another 30 minutes or so after she departed for school, after I removed a cricket trying to bother me on the back of the couch.  It was far from peaceful, though.  However, I'm thrilled to be living this particular day, for various reasons, so I'll try not to complain too much.  :)

Well, folks, I think it's time to go get dolled up.  I have to depart in about 30 minutes.  While I'm giddy about this morning weather, I don't know how excited I am that my 9 a.m. destination requires me to be outside to meet my mother at the end of a parade in downtown Hutchinson.  :)  Ah, what the hell, I hope it pours down on me while I'm out there! :)  I'll just smile up at God and know he thought I needed a good Wednesday morning shower, courtesy of the Almighty, himself.  How can I really argue with that?! :)

I'll be back in Newton by late this afternoon.  I'll post again when I can, which shouldn't be TOO long.  I hope you all have a good rest of the week.  Take care...and, as always...MISS ME! :) Farewell for now...

On a positive note, I am rather optimistic about things in my life.  I know it's getting better, and I know I'm making it better.  May my dreams come away with me in my slumber.  And when I awake, may they do their best to make themselves come true. :)  Goodnight, all! :)  Here's to dreaming...

Come Away With Me

Come away with me in the night
Come away with me
And I will write you a song

Come away with me on a bus
Come away with me where they can't tempt us
With their lies

I want to walk with you
On a cloudy day
In fields where the yellow grass grows
knee kigh
So won't you try to come

Come away with me and we'll kiss
On a mountain top
Come away with me
And I'll never stop loving you

And I want to wake up with the rain
Falling on a tin roof
While I'm safe there in your arms
So all I ask is for you
To come away with me in the night
Come away with me

So it's sleepy time again...and Adam still doesn't seem to have any interest in communicating with me.  I'm sure he's drowning himself in HIS GAME...and slowly forgetting I even exist.  My life won't stop, though...I refuse to let it fall with him.  I desire too many wonderful things to dwell on that.  So it should be interesting...to see how the story ends now.  Fairtyales and fantasies full of the famous fellow forgetting the end is supposed to be happy.  When a man loves a woman...the tale shouldn't go like this.  I think it's time we create a better story.  We both deserve happiness greater than this.

"Oh, I know that you can hear me, but I'm not sure you're listenin'
I hear what you're sayin', but still there's something missin'
Whether I go, whether I stay
Right now depends on whatever you say"

                                                                       What do you say?

I long for the company of your smile, your soul, and your hand in mine, as we journey down a lakeside path...the setting sun our only light.  By the fire's side, I long to fall in love over and over, lying in the comfort of your strong, kind arms.  I fear nothing as long as you are close, to hold me near.

I long for the happiness in surprises...
when you come to see me unexpectedly, just to kiss me...because you missed my touch. 
when you send me a written letter, full of all our hopes and dreams...and promises I know you'll keep.
when you find a rarity of something you know will shock me into giddiness.
when you discover a new way to make me smile.

I long for the opportunity to surprise you...
when you think a rough week will never end, and I find a way to make you wish it never would.  :)
when work keeps you late, and I show up to bring you the dinner you weren't able to be home for.
when another birthday rolls around...and you're expecting another tie...and I take you on a weekend getaway for a little personal time together.  ;)

Encouraging my passion to thrive, you bring me the satisfaction of knowing you'll always love me just the way I am.  I'm all you'll ever need in a lover, a companion, a friend, a partner, and a confidant...all in one...and you're all of that to me.  I trust you with my life...with my soul...with my existence.  You reciprocate that trust.  The beauty and honesty in our love is ever-lasting.

                 This is what I long for...this is what happiness shall find me...

I'm back! :)  Adam and I got back to Kansas August 30th around 8 p.m. or so.  It's good be home, although I still can't believe I missed Kansas this much.

My birthday was Thursday, Sept. 1st.  It was so-so.  Adam was here, but were arguing during most of the day, so we didn't do much.  We did go out to eat at Applebee's that night, and I had a lovely meal, with a tasty strawberry daquiri.  :)  My grandparents brought me a cake, although they were busy all day, so I didn't get to spend any time with them.  Like I said, though, it was so-so.  I'm glad Adam was here for my birthday, though...that was nice.

I'm job-searching like crazy. No more of that half-assed stuff I was doing before.  I have ambition and hope for positive things to come.  :)  I'm just excited to actually live life again...and do some things for myself to better my well-being.  I've had an inspiring last couple of days, for a variety of reasons.

One of those reasons is that I'm here visiting my mom for a few days.  It's been SO good to see her.  I love her more and more as I get older.  It's impossible to explain.  I just feel her and I growing closer.  It's a very comforting feeling.  And she inspires me to play music.  How can I not adore that?!

I won't go into any detail about my other inspirations.  They're a bit more personal than I'd like to share on a public live journal.  Not that anyone even reads this thing anymore...and not that there has been a great need to, since I've been slacking.  Regardless, even I have things I don't wish to openly share with the world.  And I wish not to taint the inspiration, so I think I'll just let it rest in soft fields of velvet-painted flowers, napping in the sun, enjoying life to its fullest.  :)

Okie...enough for now.  I hope you're all doing well.  I'll try to update more often than I did while I was away to Texas.  Have a good weekend!

I've been on a music kick these last several days. I can't even tell you how many new mp3's I've managed to acquire while I've had a faster connection at my disposal. I know I have at least 200 new songs...of all different ranges and genres. It makes me giddy. :P

I came across a lovely soul a few days ago when I was searching myspace.com for new music. I found a good handful of new artists/bands to enlighten myself with. Anyway, Sara Genn (http://www.seraphina.com if you're interested in checking her talent out), sent me a cute little e-mail via myspace after priveleging me with her permission to be added as a friend! It inspired me to actually delve into my musical background. I tried summarizing things in the e-mail I was originally responding to her with, but that just wasn't working out. Plus I didn't want to overload her with information she might very well not give a damn about. :P This all led me to the decision to just post a detailed look into the musical experiences of my past and present both. Perhaps someone will find it interesting. If not, I thoroughly enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane to recall some fond memories. :) At the very least, it explains part of my insane obsession with music.

As I've explained to Sara, as well as some of you before, the only music I have actually recorded of myself is pretty much crap! The quality just sucks on most of it, but I'm addicted to it! I remember shortly after I first got a computer back in like the fall of '97, I found an immediate obsession with sound recorder. :) I've always enjoyed recording myself singing, but it's never my own stuff.. :( I enjoy playing...and singing...and writing. Unfortunately, it's just rare that they all find a way (or even an opportunity) to merge with me or me with them. I somehow haven't managed to successfully combine my writing with some original music of my own. Maybe someday...maybe not. Perhaps I'll compromise...and stick to collaborating with someone who can bring out the best in me one of these days. :) So, yes, I do have recordings of myself, as some of you might know. They usually, however, only come out of hiding when I develop a certain level of trust with someone. So we'll see how that goes... It's quite personal, you know! ;) In the meantime, though, here's a little music bio on yours truly...

Singing - On my own, I've always been interested in vocal stuff. While I'm better than the average singer (probably mostly due to the fact I was raised learning the intricacies of vocal accuracy and such....I honestly owe my mother so much when comes to the musical knowledge I've acquired over the years), I'm certainly not super amazing or anything. I definitely enjoy singing...ALL the time...and definitely beyond any level of 90% of all people or something. :) I sang in school choirs, doing the occasional solo or small ensemble, through my freshman year. I took voice lessons from a very good (but very odd, Cruella DeVille look-alike) vocal instructor for about 3 months, but it just wasn't my thing. I preferred just singing in choir...and then doing my own thing in my spare time. After my freshman year, our amazing vocal teacher moved up in the world to go teach at a private college in another city. He was replaced by someone I knew my mother despised, so I just pursued more acedemic classes starting my sophomore year. I still don't regret it overall, although I wish I could have been more involved in singing with groups throughout high school...or braving a performance in one of the talent shows they put on (I get wretched stage fright!). Before and since then, I sang in "chorale" for Hutchinson Community College for one semester...I do the occasional song for my grandparents' church...sing with a church choir...sing with a friend (Leslie...a good friend from high school and fellow band member, who I'll mention later, I'm sure...used to sing with me...she has an amazing voice!)...or go to a karaoke bar. I adore singing with other people...harmony gives me goosebumps! Singing is definitely a true passion, though...and an emotional outlet to such an intensive level!!!

Piano - I started lessons when I was in probably 1st grade. I took lessons from one of my mother's first piano teachers for a year or so, and then my mother just took over the teaching when we moved (one of MANY moves, I might add). With the exception of a few months of lessons from a college student at the community college in Hutchinson, my mom was really my ownly piano teacher. Eventually that just stopped working...too close of a relationship to enforce practicing and such when I was striving to just be a kid. I'm average, though, and since I read music, I can pick through a lot of things...and I manage to play basics of things I want to just play by ear (which is SO difficult when you grow up knowing how to read music!). Compared to my mother, I'm absolutely horrible! :) But I can hold my own...and I adore playing when I have the opportunity (which isn't very often at all...). I hope to pursue it more eventually when I have the time, location, and equipment to do so. I just can't settle for extending my learning of piano on an electric keyboard...it's just NOT the same. It'd be nice to have one for fun, but I was spoiled, being raised with a wonderful piano in the house. :)

Clarinet - I started playing clarinet in 5th grade for band (I was able to use the wooden clarinet my mother played up through high school...so again I was spoiled! :P), and I played that in concert band...and then pep band and marching band through the end of my freshman year. We had a relatively small band...at about 60 members. Our high school only had about 400 students...maximum! At the beginning of my sophomore year, my band instructor asked me to switch from B flat clarinet/marching to playing mallet instruments and some minor cymbol parts for marching band in the pit, since I knew piano. That worked out well, since I absolutely HATED marching! I still marched in parades, but another mallet player and I just carried the banner in the front! Those were good times! :P When marching band was over my sophomore year and it was time to start rehearsing for concert band again, I briefly returned to my B flat clarinet, until our band instructor informed our significantly large clarinet section, that we only had one bass clarinet player and that he wanted to see if there were any volunteers willing to switch. He was hesitant at first to allow me and my friend Leslie (who was amazing on clarinet, by the way :P) to switch over, but he recluctantly allowed us to switch. The three of us were good as we were...and then a 4th decently talented bass clarinet player transferred to our high school about a month into the beginning of the rehearsing concert band music. On at least a handful of occasions in the 3 years I played, I recall some very proud moments where our director would stop the band and ask the bass clarinets to play a part to show them how it was supposed to sound.  I loved those days. :)  I quickly fell in love with the sound, the feel, and the beauty of the bass clarinet. I never ever really went back to the B flat...not even for pep band. I think that's when I developed an admiration and infatuation with the sound of bass in general. I couldn't get enough! I did solos and ensembles for contest my sophomore and junior year (after I got used to playing something that was about 6 times larger than what I was used to), and I attended a rather well-known band camp in Kansas during the summer between the two years. (Yes, I was an uber band nerd...and proud of it, dammit! :P).   Unfortunately, I haven't been priveleged to play a bass clarinet since the end of my senior year in high school.  I often think aboutit and miss the experience. :(  If they weren't so damn expensive, I'd consider purchasing one.  Perhaps someday...along with a lovely piano...and maybe a quaint, little studio for me to record in some room of a future home. :P I also like to dream extensively, if you can't tell. ;)

Guitar - My experience with guitars is also very limited. My mother bought me an acoustic from a friend of hers for me for my 16th birthday. I didn't learn ANYTHING for quite some time...beyond the concept, notes, and some extreme basics (which is kind of a duh...given my music knowledge already at that point). I suppose my learning methods were definitely flawed, given I still can't play guitar worth a crap. I was in possession of an electric guitar for a while, that belonged to a friend. That was fun to play on, even though acoustic is definitely more my style. :) And know that I kid you not when I speak of my lack of guitar-playing abilities. :P Another something I'd love to know more intimately someday...

Miscellaneous - I've dabbled in handbells for a church bell choir (a REALLY long time ago) and also with the alto saxophone (for a VERY short time when a small jazz group was recruiting necessary members for their ensembles at the community college I attended one semester). That's about it for the random short-term musical experiences.

Music runs in my family, and saying that is somewhat of an understatement. :) Being the daughter of a vocal music teacher (who has been playing piano since she was 5....and started teaching piano lessons herself by the time she was in high school), I definitely have an appreciation for music that many people miss out on. My mother and her youngest sister are both vocal music teachers, in fact. My mother started out teaching at the grade school and middle school level. She now teaches middle school and high school, although I think she misses teaching the younger students sometimes. She also plays piano for her church's Sunday services and the choir. She's been in charge of a handful of church choirs (both adult and children's groups) over the years. She's amazing at what she does with her gift...I'm endlessly impressed by her and her talents. My grandfather (on my mom's side) has one of the most beautiful tenor voices I've ever heard. I've enjoyed singing with and listening to him many times. My grandmother (on my mom's side) plays piano and organ. My father played guitar and sang often before he horribly injured a finger MANY years ago. My grandmother (on my dad's side) is well-known in the family for her little songs about pets...and other silly things. I have fond memories of her being creatively musical. :) My brother used to sing...used to play piano a little...and used to play trumpet (until he was allowed to transfer to playing drums/percussion full-time). He's an amazing drummer/percussionist. I'm constantly impressed and baffled by his talents, as well. That's one thing I could just NEVER do. He's been in several bands...and he teaches percussion at the same high school my mom teaches at as one of two jobs he holds. His current band (a bassist friend of his, a guitar friend they met a couple of years ago, and ever-changing lead singers :P) seems to gradually be doing more and more...and compared to a lot of the local small-town/local band types (and even big, mainstream bands) I've heard in my day...they are defnitely unique and extremely talented!

So music is definitely in my blood...and in my soul. My experiences with music...and my interest in good, quality, unique music and writing has led me to the lovely place I'm in now, where I enjoy so many different kinds of music. As most of you know, Tori Amos is by far my absolute favorite. I don't even need to explain that one....she's just a musical and lyrical genius...and I worship her brilliance and originality! :) Most of you know what other things I enjoy listening to, as well. If not, I've got my list of 50+ artists that I listen to on a regular basis to enlighten you. :) My range of musical interests is very difficult to describe. The only genres I'm not a huge fan of are rap, most techno, hip-hop, disco, and sell-out/fake/unoriginal music. Beyond that, I'm extremely open. I listen to a lot of music that contains piano...varying from Tori...to Counting Crows...to almost anything classical...to Abra Moore...to Evanescence....to Muse...to Vanessa Carlton...to Annie Lennox...to Fisher...to The Juliana Theory....to Coldplay...to Elton John/Billy Joel...to Sara Genn ( I HAD to plug her :P)...to The Thrills...to Sarah McLachlan...to Ben Folds...to musicals....to Prince...to Fiona Apple...to Phil Vassar...to Across the Sky....to Death Cab for Cutie....to Anna Nalick....to Taking Back Sunday....to Amy Grant...to Melissa Etheridge....to Emily Richards....to Roxette....and on and on. :) I might have gotten a bit carried away there, but they all have one....or two....or endless amazing songs with piano in them. I listen to a lot of great acoustic music, as well. And I'm ALWAYS looking for a good music recommendations, so think of me when you hear some new (or old) amazing song. :) The searching and seeking shall never end for this music fiend! >:)

Okie, that concludes the music bio tour...let me know what you think. :) Hopefully I didn't bore anyone TOO much. Take care, all! :)