Inauguration Day

I have been informed that my posts are lacking, so here is something that I'm actually putting effort into:

First, some relevant sites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REQgZVOxBhI (Comments from yesterday)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4G6lD89urs (info on past inaugural speeches)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j80PPivvPA (Predictions for the inaugural address)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gXZCvEC9U0 (Aretha Franklin singing "My Country 'Tis of Thee"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=274_VdeckAU (Obama's oath)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hKUtZaMLuh6KEQgRzqqEq1yTZ_2gD95R22O00 (Text of the Inaugural Address)
http://www.whitehouse.gov (has officially switched over to Obama's administration, at noon today, he was handed the root password along with the key to the nuclear weapons arsenal)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK6bpI7mDYg (Inaugural Address Part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q1uHVPWoEI (Inaugural Address Part 2)

"Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task." -President Barack Hussein Obama

My Conversation with the resident Republican
My hall's RR (Resident Republican) who shall go unnamed and I had a very short, yet illuminating conversation about what his thoughts on inauguration day. The conversation began with me overhearing him telling someone on the phone that Aretha's rendition of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" was so horrible, it merited a call to this particular person (I don't know who it was or why they would care so much about "My Country 'Tis of Thee"). Of course, I then asked why it was so bad because I hate to think that Aretha might have lost her chutzpah. He then proceeded to agree not to rail on Obama until he makes "his first mistake" which, he says "might have already happened because of the appointments and first executive orders." Relevant information:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing_room/nominations_and_appointments/
His main problem was with Tim Geithner, the new Secretary of the Treasury. Apparently, Geithner has been conviced of tax fraud and has been backholding taxes for 3 years, only to pay them off right after his appointment. Relevant information:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/13/treasury.taxes/
So it turns out that yes, he did withold taxes, and yes, his housekeeper was illegal for 3 months. The housekeeper thing I am willing to completely overlook. Being allowed to work for 3 months between the expiration of her visa and getting her green card (because she married a US Citizen) is not such a big deal in my opinion. On the matter of the back taxes, the speaker of the house did say that it was an honest mistake. Not knowing anything about taxes, I would say that $43,000 is quite a large "honest mistake." I suppose if he was not aware of the problem until his audit in 2006, it is understandable that with his high-paying job, he could have racked that amount up. He also willingly paid everything he owed, which leads me to believe that he can be considered honest. Some say that his mistake may point to incompetency. That remains to be seen. I would imagine that his taxes are a lot more complicated than most people's and that knowledge of how to fill out forms is not comprable to the knowledge needed to successfully be Treasury of the Secretary. We will see though, he will have a lot to say I imagine in the coming months with the economy as it is. RR also had a problem with Obama "butchering the oath." I watched the video, I think that the pure exitement on his face is proof enough that his stumbles had nothing to do with irreverence, but were the product of his overflowing emotions that he thankfully got a hold of to deliever his address perfectly. Which bring me to...

The ADDRESS

Permit me to say WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! President Obama's words were heartfelt, and thoughtful. His demeanor sincere, and his message both joyous and reassuring. I do not expect President Obama (typing that just feels good) to magically fix problems, and I do not expect legislative process to suddenly become easy, but my hopes for his presidency are so high, and I am so excited, it is a little ridiculous.

The really important speech to watch for content will be his first Sate of the Union Address.

I was going to say something else, but I can't remember it, I got distracted momentarily. More to come later I suppose. I will most likely have more conversations with RRs and probably Marisa, the RRD (Resident Raging Democrat).

HAPPY INAUGURATION DAY!!!!
-Christina

P.S. Comepletely unrelated, and probably unread since this post is an ungodly length, but choir tour is on, and I am on the committee to help choose the new choir director since Dr. Bigler will not be with us next year. Yay!

-Christina
music: "Brownie Eyes" Clifford Brown
"Jonny Blackburn is basking in the glory of our new chief an commander."

First of the new Semester

So...news....

It's been a while, I don't really know where to start...

Today I got a letter in the mail from TMEA, I got the scholarship again, yay! $2500 for school next year. They will send me the check after I get them proof of registration again, so we know not to tell Trinity about it next year.

I have been to almost all of my new classes by now. I have a couple classes that only meet on mondays (so I won't get to those until the 26th), and private lessons don't start until next week. Of course I enjoy my music classes, but I think that argumentation and PAD 1 are both going to be great. Jared's class is going to be a lot of work again (that would be Argumentation), but I know how he operates now, so there won't be any surprises. I really like my schedule so far as well. I can walk to and from most classes with either Nik or Marisa, and I always have someone to eat lunch with (I'm still busy from 3-9 straight on thursdays, but that's alright). I even get nap times occasionally!

I found a yoga studio near school, and am going to start taking classes on friday (that would be tomorrow...) It's $162 for 20 classes, I think that sounds pretty fair. Especially if I could convince mom and dad to pay for them *ahem* since it is such good excercise, and I don't have time to take yoga at school because I'm so studious and taking 18 hours already.

This would be the point when I need feedback in the form of questions for me to answer, so have at it! Here is the current schedule of performances that I have:

March 2 Orchestra Concert
March 21 Choir Concert
April 19 Band Concert (Contrabassoon)
April 25 Choral Union (choir and orchestra)

Additionally, there will be another voice studio recital, and a choir performance at a church to get ready for the tour.

Some pictures for your entertainment:

These include my dance partner, Sam, and I at our Country/Western dance final in completely matching clothes, and Nik in New Mexico lying in the snow in snow-ball defeat.

-Christina
music: Death of a Gremmie by Dick Dale and His Del-Tones
"yodeling pickle"