My Husband the Composer

Ok he's not my husband yet, but he IS a composer. And we just experienced the first of many experiences sitting in the audience as one of the best choirs in the nation performed a Burzlaff original. *sigh*

Patick and I (and Alan and Jo Dena, his parents) flew to Denver last Thursday for the Nordic Concert at Augustana Lutheran Church. We got a call Friday afternoon that the choir was being dropped off at the mall to eat and shop for a while before rehearsal, so we met them there and had a joyful reunion in the middle of one of the department stores. We must have been a sight...all these college kids wearing the same blue polo running in, screaming, embracing, laughing, crying. Ha!

Patrick and I rode the bus to the church where we watched them rehearse. How weird to not be on the risers! After that Patrick and I went to our first Alumni Dinner--even weirder.

The concert itself was incredible. Easily the best choir concert I have ever been to, including that one Russian choir that came to Luther when I went to school there. WOW. Nordic's tone and sensitivity are incredible this year, and it doesn't hurt that thier repertoire is perfectly programmed. GAH! Can I buy the CD now?? '

Dr Arnold said Patrick's piece has been very well recieved. Apparently there was a music publishing something or other guy there that approached DCA asking to publish it. Dr Arnold had to inform him that the Luther College Choral Series would be getting to it first. How proud am I right now?? :)

OK I'll stop now. BUT I AM SO PROUD OF HIM!!! :)

Home is Where the Heart is

I feel like my whole life is a "transitional phase".

When you're growing up you're obviously constantly changing physically, then comes the big transition to college and the even bigger transition out of college, going on to who knows what, but it doesn't matter because you're going to move on to something else and get married and have kids and buy a house and never pay off your loans. And as if that weren't enough you have all the little transitions and changes in between!

I live in 4 places right now.

I live in Iowa, because that is where part of my heart is and that is where I want to live someday. When I think of "home", I think of Iowa.

I live in my apt on Preble Dr, because that is where I do my cooking and cleaning and showering and sleeping. When I think of "home", I think of Preble Dr.

I live in an apt on the beach, because that is what I will indicate on all of my change of address forms because I am moving there in 3 or so weeks. When I think of "home", I think of the apt on the beach.

I live in Bakersfield, because that is where Patrick lives, that is where I will live and work when we are married, and that is where I am most wknds. When I think of "home", I think of Bakersfield.

Is it August 2 yet?

Jeopardy and USC

I've really been getting into Jeopardy lately. Mostly because they almost always have some sort of music category. I'm really good with Opera and Composer categories, but not so much with Musical Theatre. Once they had a Bach category and I got all but one right!

So anyway, the other day there was this clue: "In the historic 2007 game USC's 35 home game winning streak was ended by this team"...."WHAT IS STANFORD!" I yelled. Yes, I knew the answer, but I was also THERE! I was so proud to have witnessed a Jeopardy clue! As I think about that game, though, my memories aren't so sweet...the Burzlaff boys don't respond so well to a USC loss. Jess and I always pray for USC wins for OUR sake.

Actually, I'm staring to like college football. I think the reason I was never interested was b/c I never knew how the game was played (Matt and Steve, wasn't that your job as an older brother??). Patrick has been teaching me, slowly but surely, for the past year, and I'm finally catching on. And I've discovered that even if you aren't in love with football, it's still fun to go to a game and have a hot-dog wrapped in bacon and covered with onions and peppers...*drool*

We went to another USC game a few wknds ago. This time it was better b/c they WON and afterwards I got my first glimpse of Pasadena...we had dinner there as a whole "potential Burzlaff family". Awww...

In other news, this wknd marks the end of my Bakersfield blitz...I've been going up there every wknd for the past 4 weeks (church stuff, USC game, Patrick's bday), which has been fun, but it will be nice to spend some time in Ventura again. Patrick and I are hoping the weather will be nice (70s?) so we can have a picnic at the beach!

I miss Iowa

I miss Iowa.

It's true! It's not that I'm seeing my family any less than I did before (well, I am, but only slightly)...it's just being aware of all the miles between us that impacts me. And not only that, but IOWA. IOWA is so far away.

Last weekend I was at Bakersfield and had a little cry fest because when I look outside I do not see changing leaves, frost, and fields. When I go to the store I do not see A&E, Mrs. Grimes chili beans, and that one brand of bread that I really like but can't think of right now.

One of the highlights of my week is when I wake up on Saturday morning and sit down to breakfast at the Burzlaffs...the Iowa game is always on TV.

I don't regret coming here though...if I hadn't I'd always want to go away. I'm here now so I can later be perfectly content in Iowa.

I'll be back.

Dimples According to Patrick

"You know how you got your dimples? When you were born, God sent an angel to bless you. So when she got done blessing you, she went back to heaven, but on her way she left her footprints on your face. God sent a stupid angel."

Today...

...I experienced my first earthquake! It lasted approx. 1/2 of a second. Funnnnn!

Life with an Ocean View

I've been waiting to make this post for a long time b/c I wanted to make sure I said everything I wanted to say, but I've kept putting it off and off and off and I just want to write, so here it is!

A day of my life in Ventura:

6:10 alarm goes off
7:15 I have snoozed until now, and I finally get up :)
8:00 arrive at work with goodies that I may or may not have baked the night before. turn on computer, and start work. The booking dept has been here since 7am. Chantal is a recruiter and also arrives at 7. Marco, the talent department head, will come in at 9. I am the only American citizen in my department! Chantal is from Holland, and Marco is from Italy. My trainer, Omar, who is now on tour is from Puerto Rico. Ashley, the sponsorship coordinator, is from Canada. Oh wait! Tim is technically in my dept, and he's from PA. I guess I do have company!
10:00 MAIL ARRIVES!!!! Auditions? Recommendations??
10:30-12 there may or may not be mtgs.
12:00 Go home for lunch. I will either have PBJ or last night's leftovers.
1:00 Back to work, calling all over the world and taking people's money.
4:00 Chantal leaves for the day, leaving me and Marco. Marco will probably say do something weird like refer to my state as a "country" and I will make fun of him.
5:00 Officially off work, but I stay to use the computer b/c I don't have one.
5:30-6 leave the office somewhere in there, maybe stopping at "Vons" to get groceries, or Target just because I can and I'm not used to it yet. When I to these places I see seaguls in the parking lots and pass a lot of halloween stores...did you know that California is like, WAY into Halloween?!? It's weird... This is also the time I use to call family members before it's too late.
7:00 at home to eat dinner (probably something chicken) and watch Jeopardy
7:30 - 9:30 bake something or clean something or watch something or call someone.
9:30 talk to patrick and go to bed.

If it's the wknd I will drive to Bakersfield or await Patrick's arrival. I like going to Bakersfield better b/c we get to do stuff that costs money like go to a USC game and watch them lose at home for the first time in 6 yrs, like last wknd. We also get to eat very well, esp last wknd because Patrick's brother Paul, the chef, was in town and cooked for us. When Patrick comes to Ventura it is significantly less exciting because we have no money to do things (ha!) and I lack a community of friends down here, so it's hard to be social. But we do get to cook and go to the beach, which is lots of fun. I'm going to try to establish the habit of going to B&N to do wedding planning when he's here.

That's another thing about Ventura...I'm in awe of all the stuff that's here. No longer do I have to go out of town to get something or go somewhere. Everything I want to get or see or do is right HERE!

...except family, snow, and choral music.