Back in Hotlanta!

I have to admit, I was not expecting it to be gloomier here than it is in Michigan.  In Michigan, it's gray, but it's not lurking-ominous-clouds-gloomy-a-tornado-could-come-at-any-moment gray.  Other than that, though, my first day back has been delightful!  It was white and snowy and beautiful when I woke up in Ann Arbor this morning, and everything about my flight went smoothly. Gina and Tyler came with my parents to pick me up from the airport, and we all rode home in my parents' new Santa Fe.  Everyone ended up coming over to my house after all, and Gina, Tyler, Mikey, Calvin, Ali, Ethan, Ally, and I played a few games and explored Historic Norcross by foot.

Yesterday, Christian and I brought Dr. Lyman the Mad Men calendar, and he loved it!  "See? I bought a polo just like this one [points to one of the pictures] yesterday!"  I also gave him my drawing, and he had that 'okay, I'll just put it over here next to the other thing you just gave me' look on his face.  Then, he FINALLY shared our jury comments with us, and ... I got straight Excellent ratings!  He read his sheet first, and he asked about why I messed up the section in the Milde etude (because I was irritated that I was playing that first and not the Vivaldi).  But then, he had tons of compliments for the Vivaldi, and literally had NO criticisms!  The oboe and flute professors also congratulated me on an excellent first jury, and with a couple of suggestions, wished me happy holidays, like Lyman said they would.  What a relief!

My parents' house is absolutely adorable, and I am already in bed in my room/the guest room.  I'm going with my dad to the early church service in the morning so I can see people before we leave for Texas, and so I can help them out with a little sight-singing.  (Hooray for getting an A in aural skills this semester!)

Off to Dallas tomorrow!!

eb

The gang in Norcross

Fun spinny thing at the park

Mikey!

Ethan :)