"I know you still like old-fashioned waltzes..."

Hmm, guess it's about time to update again.

What have I been up to, lemme see...

Well, band and choir have resumed at RCTC, though as of yet I have only had two real choir classes during which we sang and one real band practice where we've played something. It's a little disappointing, but things should pick up since I think we have a concert coming up in February. Part of the not playing is due to informing new choir/band members about the Florida trip that the music department is going to take during Spring Break. I'm excited about that. We're not performing or anything while we're down there, it's just a trip for fun. I am a little apprehensive, though, since I don't know anyone who is going (all the people I've met in choir/band aren't able to come) and I don't know how much alcohol will be present. I really hope there is a group who is alcohol-free or at least is responsible about drinking and won't criticize me for not drinking. Anyways, I think it should be fun, given I make some friends (which I have been guaranteed I would, so it shouldn't be a problem) and the weather is good. As a group we see lots of dinner shows, go to amusement parks and the beach. I'm excited to go to the beach. It'd better not be raining that day.

Throughout January I've been attending wrestling meets, which are lots of fun- as long as they don't take over three hours. Last night I went to my first boy's basketball game. Sadly, they lost, but Greg played. Yay for Greg!

What else...

Oh, during Christmas break and into mid-January (so about a week ago) I've been helping edit a book that was written by my high school drama director, Mr. Little. He's going to go through and self-publish the book and it should be available at Barnes & Noble by mid-summer. It's a really good book and I recommend that everyone should purchase it once it's been released. =D If you'd like to learn what the book is about, you should check out this site: The Centurion. The post that tells about the book is located at the bottom of the page. Even if you check out Little's site and find you wouldn't be interested in such a book, I ask that you still go forth and tell other people about it- 'specially if you know someone who would probably enjoy it.

Yeah, that was one of the highlights of my January: editing. I got to feel smart and important. =D

But the biggest highlight of my January, by far, is the butt-whooping that the Dover-Eyota Drama Monkeys brought to the One-Act Play Conference Competition last weekend. For years D-E has struggled to even make a placing in the competition. Last year, we finally placed and got a close 2nd to St. Charles. It was amazing; we were all ecstatic. But this year, the cast of "The Swimmer" has scored first in the conference!! It is a landmark in Dover-Eyota history: the thespians of D-E have scored first in competition. So to all the Monkeys who put such great effort into their performance and finally beat St. Charles, Congratulations!! I can't wait for you guys to go to State! Know that I'll be the first in line to battle for coach buses and fancy hotel rooms, paid by the school district, for you guys when you head up there. =D
**If you haven't seen "The Swimmer" yet, there will be a free performance in the Dover-Eyota High School auditorium after the girl's basketball game this Thursday, January 18th.**

Now I'm remembering a fountain of things I've been up to...Eep!...

I've been helping a few friends with songs for the Cancer Telethon, which is this weekend. I'll be accompanying two pieces Sunday morning, one song is "The Rose" and the other "Tears in Heaven," for a few of my friends. It should be fun, and a little nerve-wrecking, but I'm excited- though not about having to get up early.

I started clogging again! Yay! It's nice to be dancing again with other people. I found my teacher from Allegro Dance Studio is now teaching at the studio in Zumbrota, so I'm dancing up there on Thursday nights. Actually, my class is going to be performing Saturday night at the Cancer Telethon, but that's the day I get de-accessed from my chemo pump- so I'll be way too tired that night to dance. =(

That brings me in to Health News de Cheryl...

Tomorrow I have another chemo treatment. I can't even remember what round I'm on anymore, but I know they'll just be a steady thing in my future until they don't work anymore. Chemo is going a lot easier since I've stopped taking the Oxaliplatin (evil chemical...very evil...). The pump, however, has become increasingly annoying. I just can't stand being leashed to that thing for two days; it bugs me. I've kind-a come to a point where I just lounge around in pajamas the two days and don't do much of anything because it's too much effort to try and look decent. I guess this week I'll make an effort since Ben has a wrestling meet Friday that I'd like to attend and the Monkeys have their sub-section competition early Saturday morning. Hmm, I think that means I'll also be learning how to de-access myself since I'll probably be in Wabasha the time my chemo treatment ends and I don't feel like leaving Wabasha to go to the Clinic for a 30 second process. Yep, will definitely be de-accessing myself. Whoopee.

The other day I decided to start drawing again. I’m not much of an artist; my only skill lies in drawing with a Number 2 pencil. So I hunted down a sketch-pad and started doodling. I’m not very good at drawing normal scenes, so I tend to make up stuff. The end result this time was a plant-lady that’s floating and extending her “arms” towards some flowers in order to pollinate them. Her “arms” are more like leafy things with tendrils on the ends. It’s weird. I’ll try to post it on the blog, but I’ve had problems in the past with posting pictures. So if it doesn’t work, just use your imagination and maybe you’ll think of something like what I’ve drawn. =D

Besides reading Little’s novel, I’ve also gone through a couple of other books. The only one I’ve found worth mentioning is the book Beka Cooper Terrier, by Tamora Pierce. It is fantabulous, but that is to be expected in a book by Pierce. It’s about a girl on a medieval police guard making a life for herself in the city slums, a serial killer, a little strange magic, and a mysterious project involving the major thieves of the city. I recommend it to all teenage girls over the age of sixteen. Yep. =)

Okay, this post has gotten plenty long.

Before I end it, I’d like to give a thank-you to Carolann, who gave me some beautiful healing stones. Thank you very much; I love them. =D

Much love to everyone,
Cheryl