Hi all,

Today will be a short post--just to update you on the past week or so.

It's funny to think that I've been here for over 6 months (almost 7?) and new things are still happening to me. 

I am still making new friends, and trying new things, and finding myself in uncomfortable situations and learning how to make the best of it. I'm able to really see myself in a new light through all of it, though. I've learned to be myself, as silly as it sounds. I've learned that when you're meeting new people, there's no point in trying to be someone you're not. And in really trying to BE myself, I've learned that it's actually much easier that way! Now that I know who I am, I'm much more comfortable being myself. This is probably getting really 1) confusing 2) vague and/or 3) deep; so I'm going to end this paragraph here.

On another note, Calvin Harris' 'Acceptable in the 80's' is constantly stuck in my head these days!!! Some may be thinking "Nooooo! You poor thing!" But I say, "HURRAH!" . I like it. 

OOOH Fun fact -- I just wikipedia'd him to tell you a cool fact and guess what -- he's actually SCOTTISH. Weird. I don't know if I'm mentioned it in my blog yet, but I actually have a funny attraction to electropop music. It just puts me in a good mood, you know? It's upbeat and repetitive enough that when it changes it's really interesting. I guess it's the same thing that attracts me to all minimalist music.

Speaking of Scottish, I did a wicked Scottish accent today, and it was even acknowledged and complimented by a Scottish friend of mine (Heather!). It was all thanks to Mike Myers, actually, who's voice I was able to impersonate as Shrek, saying "that'll do, donkey...that'll do." WOO WOO. Speaking of Heather, she is another lovely soul that I don't talk enough about. I think I've generalized friends a lot in this blog, but this Heather's official introduction to my home friends. She is a lovely, hilarious trombone player, and keeps me sane while spending time with all the boys at jazz/quartet. Maybe it's the unspoken female-trombone-playing vibe that leads us to get along so well, but I think it's more than that. She gets me, and doesn't think I've gone completely mad when I say/do silly things. She's one of the people here I can really be myself in front of (as are all of my trombone friends). But anyway, since this is about Heather, I thought I'd fill you in on an excursion that Heather and I went on this weekend. We were originally going to go to a brass show, but when that didn't work out, we decided to fill the day with a trek to ASDA, basically the Walmart of Aberdeen. It's mostly food, like kind of a No Frills idea, but there's loooads of other stuff too (that's where I got my clothes drawers and stuff). Anyway, so we went on a trip there, which isn't usual because it's so far away. ASDA is right near the beach, and Caledona's theme park (a small one, like what Lake Ontario Park used to be). So anyway, we're walking there, and I see the ferris wheel, and then I ask, only about 30% jokingly, "Hey Heather, want to go on the ferris wheel?" And to my delight, she replies "seriously?....yes!" (well maybe not exactly that ver batum, but something that conveyed agreement). So we went into the theme park, paid for just enough tokens to go on the ferris wheel, and WOOHOO! It was so fun! We've decided that we're going to have an end-of-the-year trombone outing where we will all go to Caledona's for a day and be little kids...since I act like I'm 5 years old most of the time anyway. But yes, the ferris wheel was lots of fun. Which reminds me-- secret time! When I was a kid, I always dreamed that my first kiss would be at the top of a ferris wheel. I don't know why, I just always thought it'd be so romantic for some reason. At the top of a ferris wheel with fireworks going off in the distance. Go ahead, laugh. I still think it's cute.

Anyway, the day gets better! Not only did we get to go on a ferris wheel, but in ASDA, I found some amazing stuff -- fruit-in-the-corner yogurt (ALMOST fruit on the bottom, Tiin!); Strawberries which are amazzzzing; CHOCOLATE MILK, and a delicious new flavour of squash (re: not the vegetable squash, the kind of squash I told you about before...the really concentrated juice kind of squash).

Oh, and another thing I found a bit odd. I went shopping this weekend to Boots to pick up a few essentials, and as I was looking in the deodorant section in hopes of finding my favourite Secret scent, I came to the realization that the vast majority of the deodorants are sold in aerosol form. Which is kind of cool, I guess (I mean, I got one and everything) but it just seems a little weird. Maybe I missed another part of the deodorant section or something, but the solid deodorant selection was very small! Anyway, I think I just don't like the idea of the aerosol because it seems less healthy. Maybe it's because I associate aerosol with spray paint and other chemicals...but it just seems weird to be shooting something pressurized onto your underarms....although I can't deny that it feels all fresh and lovely. I know that we also have aerosol deodorants in Canada, but....I just can't decide what I really think about it. Ideas?

Last thing for today is mentioning my recital woes. I still have no idea what I want to play for it. I have 10 or 11 minutes figured out, but my program needs to be 20 minutes long...and I can't decide what else I want to play -- and I only have 1 month to learn it (or re-learn it, as the case may be). Another problem is getting an accompanist. I am sending out emails tonight. Let's hoooope! But its hard to get an accompanist when I don't know exactly what I'm playing! eek!

Anyway, it's trombone quartet time soon so I'm gunna jet and I'll update again soon!

Miss you all at home! Until next time,

Becky

xxx