So much changing so much staying the same.

It's the new year, 2010, can you believe it??? I sure can't. Seems like just yesterday, Mike, Heidi and I were ringing in 2000 at La Salles in Chico. We got married in October 2000, moved to S. Cal in 2001. Lived there until the end of 2003, then back up to Roseville, CA. I started my career in employee benefits, thanks to a great referral from my sister Christine. Mike continued to work in Optical in San Diego, Roseville, and Sacramento.

In 2007 I read an article about great small towns. Mike and I were both a little frustrated living in suburbia and commuting. The article, in a round about way, lead us to move to Moscow, ID so Mike could go back to school full time. So, in 2000 & 2010, one of us was a full time student, one worked full time, we lived in a small 2 bedroom apartment... funny how in such a round about way we seem to be back to where we started the decade. :-)

School has started back up for Mike and he's taking a pretty hectic schedule, including Quantum Physics, Nanotechnology, Astrophysics, Electromagnetic Fields II, and some really hard crazy math class. I have a feeling that I won't be seeing him much this semester!!

He also got a job!! Well, sort of anyway. He'll be grading papers for one of his professors a couple of hours a week. More than anything else it'll look good when he goes to apply for grad school.

Things are going well at my job. Actually I have a second interview for a manager position next week. Fingers crossed that all goes well! It would be nice to be able to be able to pay off some bills and bank a little extra cash. AND a benefits manager position would be great to have on my resume. It will be a tough job, but I'm confident I can do it!

Beethoven and Brahms

Living in a small town has some disadvantages, minimal shopping, not a whole of entertainment opportunities, however, living in a small town with a University sure helps lessen those disadvantages. Mike and I were feeling like we needed some culture in our lives so last night we attended a Faculty Recital at the Lionel Hampton School of Music here at the University. Three professors have come together to form the Kennard Trio. They played the Piano, the Violin, and the Cello. The program included Beethoven’s Piano Trio in C-Minor, Op. 1, No. 3 and Johannes Brahms’ Clarinet Trio, Op. 114. Ok, so now that I’ve basically just copied information out of the program, since I really have no idea what Op. 1, No. 3 means… let me tell you it was so much fun!

It was just in a cool 1970’s style recital hall, with some seriously dated seating, but for someone who know nothing about classical music it was just beautiful. I kept closing my eyes and trying to figure out which sound was the violin and which sound was the cello. Mike really liked it too, but since he’s actually taken Music Theory courses, he knew a little bit more about it that I did.

I think we are going to try and continue to add a little ‘culture’ to our lives. Next week we are going to go to a guitar recital. Mike’s really excited about that one. And I decided to volunteer at Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival that’s going on here in February. The Jazz Festival is a really big deal here in our little town. Not only do they get some big performances, but kids from all over come for the conference. Last year I had to travel to San Diego for a last minute work trip so I missed it completely so I’m really excited to be here this year for it. And of course, with volunteering your get tickets to the shows so I can’t wait!