Neal and I have been doing some more research on sound schools lately. Why? Because as AWESOME as going to Manchester would have been, we both feel its probably a bit unreasonable. We would have to prove that we had the funds to pay for not only school, but our all of our living expenses for the 18 months we would be over there before we could even get a student visa. Add in figuring out how I was going to get over there and stay (legally), we just don't know if its going to happen.
I started poking around some more, and found two other schools that had programs similar to the one in Manchester. The first was in Minnesota, and similar to the school in Manchester, when Neal graduated he would get a diploma, not an actual degree. Then I found a forum where a kid had been talking about "Columbia" in Chicago. After doing some searching, I found the College of Columbia in Chicago. This is a private arts school that not only offers a sound program, but a BA in Audio Acoustics. How awesome is that? We would be able to use financial aid (unlike England), and would be a whole heck of a lot closer to home!
We're still praying about it and discussing it, but both of us feel a bit better about Chicago than Manchester. We're currently waiting on information from both schools so that we can more effectively make our decisions :)
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
It seems silly that we're this excited....
Ok. It seems silly that we're this excited. You would THINK we were having a kid, right? But no. The real reason we're so excited? We bought a brand new bed frame....for $200. Did I mention its king size? And gorgeous? Yup. We put it together last night (boy, that was an adventure...I even discovered something that I need to work on in the process of putting the bed together)! It was super, super fun, and now we feel less "ghetto" because our box springs are actually sitting on more than just the floor :)
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Our first holiday season...and some other stuff.
Our first Christmas together was wonderful. We spent our Christmas Eve with my family at my grandparents house. We had our traditional Christmas Eve dinner which consisted of meats, cheeses, shrimp, and other finger foods. The missionaries from my grandparents' ward were there, and they enjoyed the presents that they got. I was so excited to get the Teachings of Thomas S. Monson book that I have been wanting FOREVER (just ask Neal...I mentioned it everytime we went to Deseret). I also got a wonderful book by President Eyring. Neal was excited to get some tools that my grandpa recommended for stage work. We then took the elders home, and went home and watched a Muppets Christmas Carol (classic) and then opened one present each. They were presents that we knew about already (I got him a pair of Vans he wanted, and he got me a pair of Reebok Tone-Up shoes).
Christmas Day was also quite fun. We opened presents just the two of us Christmas morning. It was quite funny because we both bought coats for each other. So, Neal now has a new Carhartt work jacket, and I have a new plaid pea coat. Our "pet possum" Maximus got us the movie Evan Almighty. Church was absolutely marvelous. The choir sang beautifully, and Neal's grandma spoke. She did such a good job! The spirit of joy was truly there, and you could see it in everyone's faces. I also had a special moment with a lady in our ward (she gave Neal and me a compliment that absolutely made my heart soar).
After church we went to Neal's parents' house to open our presents from his side of the family. We were given a lot of emergency prepardness items, which made me happy. I've really been thinking a lot about food storage and emergency prepardness lately, so the gifts were perfect. We then had a delicous dinner at Neal's aunt's house. His uncle made some delightful sweet potatoes, which reminds me that I need to get the recepie for it! After dinner we went down to my parents' house and enjoyed time with my family, Tommy, and Kayla. My cousin Josh was on leave for Christmas, and I didn't think I would get to see him, but to my surprise, he was sitting on my parents' couch when I got there! I was so excited to give my family their gifts, and it definitely seemed like they loved them! We got all eight Harry Potter movies from my parents, which was super exciting! Neal got a pair of gators for hunting, I got my traditional Christmas collectable Barbie, and my siblings gave us Iron Man (which we were also very excited about).
On Monday, we were able to hang out with Michael and Taylor Stones! What a fun, fun, FUN evening! We talked, played dance games on the Wii (including Michael Jackson...booyah!), ate pizza, and taught their family the game psychiatrist. While playing the Wii, we discovered that Neal has a hidden talent for Wii dance games! He and Michael also did this hip-shaking, Shakira dance, to which Taylor and I appropriately cat called. It was QUITE entertaining. It was so much fun to hang out with another married couple, and to enjoy playing and goofing around.
On Tuesday, Taylor had her baby shower at the Stones' house. That was well good. (PS. That's not bad grammar...that's a British term). This past week was the first time Taylor and I were able to actually hang out as friends. The food was delicious, and I got some WONDERFUL pictures of Taylor. She's super cute, and I can't wait for her and Michael to be parents. They will do such a fantastic job.
We also left for our late season hunting trip on Tuesday. It was kind of strange to just have my dad, my brother, and me up there...usually there are more people than that! It was hard to be away from Neal for almost six days, but I survived. This year was the weirdest year hunting-wise I've ever seen. We didn't even get a shot at an elk. That NEVER happens. I have never come back from a late season hunting trip without my tag filled. I guess Neal and I prayed for what we needed, and we didn't need an elk! Luckily the deer I shot this year was REALLY big, so we were able to get plenty of meat off of that.
We came back from hunting on New Years Day. Neal came and picked me up from my parents' house, and after I had showered and other such things, we went to his brother's house. We had delicious brinner (breakfast and dinner...aka breakfast for dinner). Robin got these cute little pancake molds for Christmas, and so we made Christmas pancakes (I got the hang of how to use them after about the fifth one). We then watched Pirates of the Caribbean #4, and got to play with Ben. Neal looked at me and told me we weren't allowed to have one yet. Humph. Hahaha.
Tech week for Anything Goes started at the Candlelight on Monday. They are doing tech week differently this show, and honestly, I rather like it. Neal's home at a decent time every night, and he's not as stressed as he usually it. The set is beautiful, and the cast is amazing. Quite a lot of talent on one stage!
Ok, now here's the big news. I had to put it last to get you to read to the end :) hehehe. Neal and I might be moving to.....*drum roll*....Manchester, England! That's right! Back to Neal's mission. We were searching for sound engineering schools for him on the web, and discovered that he used to walk right by this school! It is going to be a very exciting and scary road, but we are rather excited! We're waiting on some information from the school, and after that it will be on to researching visas! Updates will be posted on here :)
Christmas Day was also quite fun. We opened presents just the two of us Christmas morning. It was quite funny because we both bought coats for each other. So, Neal now has a new Carhartt work jacket, and I have a new plaid pea coat. Our "pet possum" Maximus got us the movie Evan Almighty. Church was absolutely marvelous. The choir sang beautifully, and Neal's grandma spoke. She did such a good job! The spirit of joy was truly there, and you could see it in everyone's faces. I also had a special moment with a lady in our ward (she gave Neal and me a compliment that absolutely made my heart soar).
After church we went to Neal's parents' house to open our presents from his side of the family. We were given a lot of emergency prepardness items, which made me happy. I've really been thinking a lot about food storage and emergency prepardness lately, so the gifts were perfect. We then had a delicous dinner at Neal's aunt's house. His uncle made some delightful sweet potatoes, which reminds me that I need to get the recepie for it! After dinner we went down to my parents' house and enjoyed time with my family, Tommy, and Kayla. My cousin Josh was on leave for Christmas, and I didn't think I would get to see him, but to my surprise, he was sitting on my parents' couch when I got there! I was so excited to give my family their gifts, and it definitely seemed like they loved them! We got all eight Harry Potter movies from my parents, which was super exciting! Neal got a pair of gators for hunting, I got my traditional Christmas collectable Barbie, and my siblings gave us Iron Man (which we were also very excited about).
On Monday, we were able to hang out with Michael and Taylor Stones! What a fun, fun, FUN evening! We talked, played dance games on the Wii (including Michael Jackson...booyah!), ate pizza, and taught their family the game psychiatrist. While playing the Wii, we discovered that Neal has a hidden talent for Wii dance games! He and Michael also did this hip-shaking, Shakira dance, to which Taylor and I appropriately cat called. It was QUITE entertaining. It was so much fun to hang out with another married couple, and to enjoy playing and goofing around.
On Tuesday, Taylor had her baby shower at the Stones' house. That was well good. (PS. That's not bad grammar...that's a British term). This past week was the first time Taylor and I were able to actually hang out as friends. The food was delicious, and I got some WONDERFUL pictures of Taylor. She's super cute, and I can't wait for her and Michael to be parents. They will do such a fantastic job.
We also left for our late season hunting trip on Tuesday. It was kind of strange to just have my dad, my brother, and me up there...usually there are more people than that! It was hard to be away from Neal for almost six days, but I survived. This year was the weirdest year hunting-wise I've ever seen. We didn't even get a shot at an elk. That NEVER happens. I have never come back from a late season hunting trip without my tag filled. I guess Neal and I prayed for what we needed, and we didn't need an elk! Luckily the deer I shot this year was REALLY big, so we were able to get plenty of meat off of that.
We came back from hunting on New Years Day. Neal came and picked me up from my parents' house, and after I had showered and other such things, we went to his brother's house. We had delicious brinner (breakfast and dinner...aka breakfast for dinner). Robin got these cute little pancake molds for Christmas, and so we made Christmas pancakes (I got the hang of how to use them after about the fifth one). We then watched Pirates of the Caribbean #4, and got to play with Ben. Neal looked at me and told me we weren't allowed to have one yet. Humph. Hahaha.
Tech week for Anything Goes started at the Candlelight on Monday. They are doing tech week differently this show, and honestly, I rather like it. Neal's home at a decent time every night, and he's not as stressed as he usually it. The set is beautiful, and the cast is amazing. Quite a lot of talent on one stage!
Ok, now here's the big news. I had to put it last to get you to read to the end :) hehehe. Neal and I might be moving to.....*drum roll*....Manchester, England! That's right! Back to Neal's mission. We were searching for sound engineering schools for him on the web, and discovered that he used to walk right by this school! It is going to be a very exciting and scary road, but we are rather excited! We're waiting on some information from the school, and after that it will be on to researching visas! Updates will be posted on here :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)