I have just found out how much I LOVE Christmas. I was so lucky to be invited with Fran and Momoko to their friend Katie down to Minneapolis, and I figured that would be funnier than staying up in the dorms until my family got here, hehe. We've been here since Friday, and I have loved every minute of it. I have been shopping alittle, met Katie's family and had dinner with them (they are all so nice, and a little Norwegian of course, hehe), met her friends, went out to eat, I even found a gift for my boyfriend, hihi. And for others too of course!
Yesterday we decorated their Christmas-tree, and I took over 250 pictures. Not even kidding. Some are of course deleted, that's the beauty of digital camera's! :D I got some REALLY cute picture's of Momoko and Fran in front of the fireplace and while decorating, and some of me of course, hehe. Posting when I can upload my pics to a computer with internet!
Well, I better go get dressed and stuff, later
Monday, December 18, 2006
Friday, December 08, 2006
No words
It was unbelievable.
I am of course talking about the Christmas Concert, and our last performance in Minneapolis in particular. If you could walk out of that place and not be moved in ANY way, I give up on human kind. After our Psalm 150 I was so out of it that I didn't remember all the words on our next song. Tears were building up both during and after the song, my body was trembling, and sweat was running down my back. I have never sung with such passion and emotion in my life. Maybe our concert in Stockholm with Voci Florens comes close, but still, that one song just took me over the top!
It has been straining, my voice was not happy Monday morning after out last concert in Moorhead, but then we had Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off from singing to recuperate, and that was very nice. After last night though, my voice was a little shabby, but it's back to normal today. We didn't have a very good warm-up, and although I tried to do some on my own, it still was a little shaky. And two concerts in a row - well, for me who can't hold back, it's kind of tough, hehe. And sometimes you just forget to u se technique and just go for LOUD, haha. But it's all good ;)
Now, about my trip to Minneapolis!
After a 4-hour busdrive down we got settled in at the hotel, which was very nice :) We had the evening free, so some went out, some stayed in, personally we spent 1,5 hours waiting for a pizza, and when it FINALLY arrived, we got it for free of course, hehe. So we ate pizza, bought some AWESOME mikshakes and went to bed.
"Bright and glorius is the sky", got up early to go for breakfast at "Key's", a very nice place not too far from our hotel. Had a HUGE meal, wasn't able to eat again until 4.30, so I loaded myself with a blueberry pancake, hashbrowns with veggies, scrambeled eggs and a couple of toasts. I was still full after two hours had passed, haha.
Then we rehearsed at Orchestra Hall, the location pf our concert, and then went shopping for a little while. Not knowing we would go from breakfast to rehearsal to shopping, I was wearing WAY to high heals (we were told to dress up during our entire stay), so my feet hurt like hell when we finally got back to the hotel. There we had a simple but very nice dinner and BROWNIES for dessert, hihi... And some cookies of course, haha. After that it was time to get ready for our concerts, so we changed and ran over to Orchestra Hall, which is just by the hotel.
Our first concert was pretty good, but the last concert... As I said, it was unbelieveable. There are a lot of seniors in the choirs, meaning this is their last year in College. So of course this would also be their last Christmas Concert. So the emotions were hanging in the air, heavy like rain, and during Psalm 150 they all came out. Pouring, like I have never experienced before. We all gave 110% or more, me included. It was just... amazing. We recorded both of these concerts I think, so I guess the best performances of our songs will be selected. I can't wait!!!! :D:D
Bustrip home was early, hot and painful because my whole body was swollen from all the walking in wrong shoes and standing up and down for so long. Au. But we got safely!
Now, here are some pictures!
At the hotel!
Some friends, mostly from Chapel Choir
Me and my namesister in front of the stage
Ready for our last concert!
I am of course talking about the Christmas Concert, and our last performance in Minneapolis in particular. If you could walk out of that place and not be moved in ANY way, I give up on human kind. After our Psalm 150 I was so out of it that I didn't remember all the words on our next song. Tears were building up both during and after the song, my body was trembling, and sweat was running down my back. I have never sung with such passion and emotion in my life. Maybe our concert in Stockholm with Voci Florens comes close, but still, that one song just took me over the top!
It has been straining, my voice was not happy Monday morning after out last concert in Moorhead, but then we had Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off from singing to recuperate, and that was very nice. After last night though, my voice was a little shabby, but it's back to normal today. We didn't have a very good warm-up, and although I tried to do some on my own, it still was a little shaky. And two concerts in a row - well, for me who can't hold back, it's kind of tough, hehe. And sometimes you just forget to u se technique and just go for LOUD, haha. But it's all good ;)
Now, about my trip to Minneapolis!
After a 4-hour busdrive down we got settled in at the hotel, which was very nice :) We had the evening free, so some went out, some stayed in, personally we spent 1,5 hours waiting for a pizza, and when it FINALLY arrived, we got it for free of course, hehe. So we ate pizza, bought some AWESOME mikshakes and went to bed.
"Bright and glorius is the sky", got up early to go for breakfast at "Key's", a very nice place not too far from our hotel. Had a HUGE meal, wasn't able to eat again until 4.30, so I loaded myself with a blueberry pancake, hashbrowns with veggies, scrambeled eggs and a couple of toasts. I was still full after two hours had passed, haha.
Then we rehearsed at Orchestra Hall, the location pf our concert, and then went shopping for a little while. Not knowing we would go from breakfast to rehearsal to shopping, I was wearing WAY to high heals (we were told to dress up during our entire stay), so my feet hurt like hell when we finally got back to the hotel. There we had a simple but very nice dinner and BROWNIES for dessert, hihi... And some cookies of course, haha. After that it was time to get ready for our concerts, so we changed and ran over to Orchestra Hall, which is just by the hotel.
Our first concert was pretty good, but the last concert... As I said, it was unbelieveable. There are a lot of seniors in the choirs, meaning this is their last year in College. So of course this would also be their last Christmas Concert. So the emotions were hanging in the air, heavy like rain, and during Psalm 150 they all came out. Pouring, like I have never experienced before. We all gave 110% or more, me included. It was just... amazing. We recorded both of these concerts I think, so I guess the best performances of our songs will be selected. I can't wait!!!! :D:D
Bustrip home was early, hot and painful because my whole body was swollen from all the walking in wrong shoes and standing up and down for so long. Au. But we got safely!
Now, here are some pictures!
At the hotel!
Some friends, mostly from Chapel Choir
Me and my namesister in front of the stage
Ready for our last concert!
Monday, December 04, 2006
Christmas Concerts
Well, that was that, we did all our Christmas Concerts here in Moorhead! It has been GREAT, and the last two performances were just WONDERFUL!! I gave it all I had, which my voice probably can confirm, hehe. There are a few pieces I just can't help but sing my lounges out, they're just beautiful and powerful. I feel so privileged, and I am enjoying every minute right now!
This Wednesday we will be going to Minneapolis to do our two Concerts down there, in Orchestra Hall, a fairly HUGE place, hihi. Really looking forward to it!! :D And after that it will all be done with and we go back to our "normal lives" and exams and stuff. Can't wait! Ha...ha........
Anyway, here is a pic or two:
Mr. Smith while we gather up for warmups
Anne Marie and Anne Marie in front of the mural!
The last mural! :D
This weekend has just been fabulous, Friday evening we got some snow, wohoooo!!!! And last night it started snowing again, so this morning I woke up to a Winter Wonderland! :) I took some pictures this morning and came almost late for class, but the sun was just SO incredible I had to get a shot of it! So enjoy :)
This Wednesday we will be going to Minneapolis to do our two Concerts down there, in Orchestra Hall, a fairly HUGE place, hihi. Really looking forward to it!! :D And after that it will all be done with and we go back to our "normal lives" and exams and stuff. Can't wait! Ha...ha........
Anyway, here is a pic or two:
Mr. Smith while we gather up for warmups
Anne Marie and Anne Marie in front of the mural!
The last mural! :D
This weekend has just been fabulous, Friday evening we got some snow, wohoooo!!!! And last night it started snowing again, so this morning I woke up to a Winter Wonderland! :) I took some pictures this morning and came almost late for class, but the sun was just SO incredible I had to get a shot of it! So enjoy :)
Friday, December 01, 2006
Dancing
We got another snowfall this morning, SOOOO nice to walk out when everything is all white! :D I have a picture, but not sure it's worth showing here - it ain't THAT much snow, hihi. But don't worry, there will be lots more of those snowy pics.
So tonight is the big night, our very FIRST Christmas Concert this year!! :D Nylons are ready, shoes are polished and the music is memorized. Soon putting on makeup and putting up hair, gonna be GREAT!!!!!
Oh, and let me know if you wanna see those videoclips from that dancing, I put it on YouTube, so all you gotta do is let me know your username and I'll figure it out! ;) Or come find me, I'm lykkepilla of course, hihi.
Anyway, better get off here, l8ah
(Fine, I'll throw in a pic... :P)
So tonight is the big night, our very FIRST Christmas Concert this year!! :D Nylons are ready, shoes are polished and the music is memorized. Soon putting on makeup and putting up hair, gonna be GREAT!!!!!
Oh, and let me know if you wanna see those videoclips from that dancing, I put it on YouTube, so all you gotta do is let me know your username and I'll figure it out! ;) Or come find me, I'm lykkepilla of course, hihi.
Anyway, better get off here, l8ah
(Fine, I'll throw in a pic... :P)
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Concert coming up!
My goodness!
This week had been interesting. We started our intensive week of rehearsal Sunday night, and we have our first Christmas Concert tomorrow already! Tuesday we had a pretty bad day, Dr. Clausen got PRETTY upset with us, and the rest of the faculties weren't very impressed with us either.
Yesterday we pulled it together and it was 4.5 notches better as Dr. Clausen said, hehe. After Psalm 150 my entire body was shaking, and I was gasping for air, sweat running down my back. But what a great sound! WOW!!!!! :D
Everybody was a little down after yesterdays lecture, but after that runthrough we all felt better I think. I really took in all that was happening, and I' really looking forward to the concert!!!! Mom, I know you know this, but you are truly missing out here... I'll try as much as i can to get someone to film it!
And just a little observation for those who watch that Bible TV-series that runs during Christmas, some kind of calymation or something: remember the voice that is the storyteller/the voice of God there? I think we got him here!!! So funny, the guy reading the texts from the Bible during the concert sounds JUST like him. It's GREAT!! I love it, just love it.
Today we will be shown the light/mural show they are playing during the concert, I'm looking forward to that! I took some pics the other day, and will take some more tonight! Here are some of the pics from yesterday:
Dr. Clausen (on the floor!) and Mr. Smith
Kelly and Amanda have mixed feelings about the concert! *giggle*
Opening mural (I think, hehe)
I had a fun day at school today; we danced West-African dances in World Musics!! You all know I love to dance, and this was just a fun as it sounds, hihi. A bit different than the other Farican dances I am familiar with, but still lots of fun. I got a few pics from that too of course!
I took small videoshots too, but I can't load them here. I might use YouTube if I figure out how to work that stuff though, so watch out for a link one of these days! :)
Now I need to read english. Bye!
This week had been interesting. We started our intensive week of rehearsal Sunday night, and we have our first Christmas Concert tomorrow already! Tuesday we had a pretty bad day, Dr. Clausen got PRETTY upset with us, and the rest of the faculties weren't very impressed with us either.
Yesterday we pulled it together and it was 4.5 notches better as Dr. Clausen said, hehe. After Psalm 150 my entire body was shaking, and I was gasping for air, sweat running down my back. But what a great sound! WOW!!!!! :D
Everybody was a little down after yesterdays lecture, but after that runthrough we all felt better I think. I really took in all that was happening, and I' really looking forward to the concert!!!! Mom, I know you know this, but you are truly missing out here... I'll try as much as i can to get someone to film it!
And just a little observation for those who watch that Bible TV-series that runs during Christmas, some kind of calymation or something: remember the voice that is the storyteller/the voice of God there? I think we got him here!!! So funny, the guy reading the texts from the Bible during the concert sounds JUST like him. It's GREAT!! I love it, just love it.
Today we will be shown the light/mural show they are playing during the concert, I'm looking forward to that! I took some pics the other day, and will take some more tonight! Here are some of the pics from yesterday:
Dr. Clausen (on the floor!) and Mr. Smith
Kelly and Amanda have mixed feelings about the concert! *giggle*
Opening mural (I think, hehe)
I had a fun day at school today; we danced West-African dances in World Musics!! You all know I love to dance, and this was just a fun as it sounds, hihi. A bit different than the other Farican dances I am familiar with, but still lots of fun. I got a few pics from that too of course!
I took small videoshots too, but I can't load them here. I might use YouTube if I figure out how to work that stuff though, so watch out for a link one of these days! :)
Now I need to read english. Bye!
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Did someone mention food?!?
I had my suspicions, and now they definitely were confirmed:
Thanksgiving = food, eating, food and EATING!!
THURSDAY
Janice made a SUPERB dinner, and I ate quite a bit. And then she topped it off by having choclate fudge made, just for me!!!! I LOVE YOU JANICE! *giggle* Might not be too good for my health, but hey, who's counting calories, right..? Haha. Besides, we found out that if you eat smaller portions and more often instead, the calories don't really count. *lol*
Anyway, Janice had her nieses Kathy and Kathy and her son Justin over also. We had a good time, and I sang the Norwegian table prayer before dinner of course, They really liked that. And turns out that Kathy (Justin's mom) likes to make Norwegian/Scandinavian food, and she makes lefse and kromkaker and sanbakkels and looots of good stuff! Mom, you should meet this woman! Got some pics here for ya:
After dinner we played this game Joker, here we are:
I won my first game, just cause they were nice to me, but still, hehe. Fun! And then we had the famous pumpkin pie that is a must at every Thanksgiving!!
FRIDAY
The BIG shoppignday in the US, I mean HUUUUGE, the biggest the have! People sleep ouside stores to get the deals they want. This one guy was interviwed because he has been the first one outside "best buy" the last 4 years. This year he spent Thanksgiving outside there. WOW. I got myself a NICE pair of boots, and cute little camera, hihi. Here are my boots:
The rest of the day was pretty laid back, we went for a walk in the BEAUTIFUL weather, it was really nice outside, and since I forgot to take picture of the dinne yesterday, here is a picture of the leftover dinner which was the exact same thing, hehe..!
SATURDAY
I felt so bad after sitting around eating all that food, so I went for a little morningrun in the coldness. It was a few degrees below 0 celcius, and my lounges are not used to that yet, so it was a very short trip. But at least I got out a little bit! Then Janice had made pull-aparts for breakfast, oh my, they are GOOOD, hihi. Got a pic of course:
Then Lyle, Matt and Anna came to eat dinner here, we had a good time too, and dinner was FAB as usual. And I loved Lyle's beanstew or whatever it's called :)
We played another round of Joker, and then after Matt and Anna left, the rest of us played Mexican train, another pic:
It was a good day :)
SUNDAY
Today I actually joined Janice when she went to church, I thought that would be a fun experience. And it was! I even witnessed a baptism, I was right smack in front where they baptized that cute little girl (Meghan). The service was very different from how we do it back home, but Janice told me that the late Sunday service usually is a little more laid back and loose.
Then we went to Space Alien Grill & Bar, oh for FUN!!! *giggle* I took a BUNCH of pictures, here are a couple:
We had some fun, haha. Now I'll be going back to my empty appartment, do homework and then there is choir tonight. Christmas concert is coming up you know!!!
Thanksgiving = food, eating, food and EATING!!
THURSDAY
Janice made a SUPERB dinner, and I ate quite a bit. And then she topped it off by having choclate fudge made, just for me!!!! I LOVE YOU JANICE! *giggle* Might not be too good for my health, but hey, who's counting calories, right..? Haha. Besides, we found out that if you eat smaller portions and more often instead, the calories don't really count. *lol*
Anyway, Janice had her nieses Kathy and Kathy and her son Justin over also. We had a good time, and I sang the Norwegian table prayer before dinner of course, They really liked that. And turns out that Kathy (Justin's mom) likes to make Norwegian/Scandinavian food, and she makes lefse and kromkaker and sanbakkels and looots of good stuff! Mom, you should meet this woman! Got some pics here for ya:
After dinner we played this game Joker, here we are:
I won my first game, just cause they were nice to me, but still, hehe. Fun! And then we had the famous pumpkin pie that is a must at every Thanksgiving!!
FRIDAY
The BIG shoppignday in the US, I mean HUUUUGE, the biggest the have! People sleep ouside stores to get the deals they want. This one guy was interviwed because he has been the first one outside "best buy" the last 4 years. This year he spent Thanksgiving outside there. WOW. I got myself a NICE pair of boots, and cute little camera, hihi. Here are my boots:
The rest of the day was pretty laid back, we went for a walk in the BEAUTIFUL weather, it was really nice outside, and since I forgot to take picture of the dinne yesterday, here is a picture of the leftover dinner which was the exact same thing, hehe..!
SATURDAY
I felt so bad after sitting around eating all that food, so I went for a little morningrun in the coldness. It was a few degrees below 0 celcius, and my lounges are not used to that yet, so it was a very short trip. But at least I got out a little bit! Then Janice had made pull-aparts for breakfast, oh my, they are GOOOD, hihi. Got a pic of course:
Then Lyle, Matt and Anna came to eat dinner here, we had a good time too, and dinner was FAB as usual. And I loved Lyle's beanstew or whatever it's called :)
We played another round of Joker, and then after Matt and Anna left, the rest of us played Mexican train, another pic:
It was a good day :)
SUNDAY
Today I actually joined Janice when she went to church, I thought that would be a fun experience. And it was! I even witnessed a baptism, I was right smack in front where they baptized that cute little girl (Meghan). The service was very different from how we do it back home, but Janice told me that the late Sunday service usually is a little more laid back and loose.
Then we went to Space Alien Grill & Bar, oh for FUN!!! *giggle* I took a BUNCH of pictures, here are a couple:
We had some fun, haha. Now I'll be going back to my empty appartment, do homework and then there is choir tonight. Christmas concert is coming up you know!!!
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Swingdance!!
Just have to say this:
Tuesdays I was kindly enough invited to dinner across the hall to the girls living there! We were in all 8 people, a good crowd around that little table, haha. But it was very nice, I had a good time.
After dinner most of us went out to this place called Avalon downtown - it's a dancingschool where you can come every Tuesday night and just dance! The first hour they have teachers teaching some stuff, then we dance til we drop, hihi. Gonna go there a whole lot more as long as I can!! :D FUN!!!!!!!!!!! :D:D:D
In a coouple of hours I will be going to Janice's to ahve Thanksgiving dinner, looking forward to it! So I better go pack, see you all!
Tuesdays I was kindly enough invited to dinner across the hall to the girls living there! We were in all 8 people, a good crowd around that little table, haha. But it was very nice, I had a good time.
After dinner most of us went out to this place called Avalon downtown - it's a dancingschool where you can come every Tuesday night and just dance! The first hour they have teachers teaching some stuff, then we dance til we drop, hihi. Gonna go there a whole lot more as long as I can!! :D FUN!!!!!!!!!!! :D:D:D
In a coouple of hours I will be going to Janice's to ahve Thanksgiving dinner, looking forward to it! So I better go pack, see you all!
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