American Aquarium - Katherine Belle

This is my first video that I've used Adobe Premiere Pro with, but I think it actually turned out pretty decent. All of the footage is from when American Aquarium performed at LaGrange  a few months back. Enjoy!

Graduation

Look at my little brother with his diploma! He's a graduate now!! 

Well, my little brother graduated this afternoon. It was great to see him walk across the stage and then get to spend some time with him later. It really has been too long. In just a few short weeks he's going to be heading to Basic Training (something I don't really like, but it is his life) and beginning his life as an adult. It's insane to think that he's an adult now! Since the internet at the hotel we're staying at is pretty crappy, I'll be uploading more pictures and stuff when we get back, but I did want to upload at least one picture of my baby brother graduating. 

It also got me to thinking about everyone I went to high school with and all of the friends I had in high school. I realized that I talk to maybe a total of five people from high school, a fact that really doesn't bother me. I thought that I was going to be friends with some of those people for the rest of my life. But, less than five years later, I honestly don't want to try and have them in my life at all. I reactivated my Facebook account Friday evening and I've quickly realized how much I have grown apart from everyone there and how far I've gone since high school. Most people in that city are perfectly content to stay there and live a life in Conway. Most of the more "adventurous" ones are making plans to move to Little Rock. People are too afraid to actually make more out of their lives... 

But, that is all a separate topic to be discussed in a separate post. This is just a quick blurb about me being a proud big sister. Congratulations to the Conway High School Class of 2012 and my little brother. 

This is going to be a great weekend!!

I can't believe my little brother is going to be graduating this weekend! And, seeing as how it's my little brother, I'll be heading up to Little Rock this weekend to watch him walk across the stage. I can't wait!

With work and everything else going on in life, I haven't been able to see my brother for over two years. Considering the crap-tastic relationship I have with my parents and the fact that until recently he's been a minor, I couldn't really fly him down without their permission. Something they would never give. Thank goodness for internet and cell phones or my relationship with him would have disappeared. There really isn't too much to say other than I'm really looking forward to watching him graduate and spend some time with him. 

Other than seeing my brother graduate on Sunday, Austin and I are also going to be meeting with a realtor on Sunday. Since we're both going to be working in the same area that my studio is in and close to school, we're contemplating getting a house at the end of our lease in August. Since neither of us have ever bought a house, we're meeting with a realtor to discuss different options and look into different houses. We're both looking forward to the possibility of having a place that's all our own. And even if we decide buying just isn't in our best interest, we'll still be moving to a better part of Dallas that fits our lives much better. And it would cut down our commute time considerably. 

Next Thursday and Friday are also going to be the last days at my current position. All they need me to come in to do is payroll, so if I can get that done Thursday, I might have that as my last day. It's a little sad to be leaving a job I've had for four years, but I know it's time for me to move on to something bigger and more challenging. And it will also (hopefully) finally get rid of one of the most toxic people that has ever forced themselves into my life. 

Since I wont be working there, I'm hoping she finally moves on. Considering just how crazy she's proved herself to be, I was worried briefly about her trying to contact my little brother or harassing him. I then realized that I have messages sent anonymously from her on various platforms. I guess she didn't realize that nothing is ever really anonymous since it really is quite easy to trace back the IP address and whatnot. So, now Austin and I are certain that she'll only force herself back into our lives if she wants to get arrested. Isn't it annoying when someone so toxic just can't get the hint you don't want them in your life? C'est la vie. 

Anyways.... I'm really looking forward to being able to share some pictures (possibly video) of my baby brother graduating. I'm guessing that post will be very picture heavy... Have a wonderful weekend!! 

As one door opens, another must close

Over the course of the last four or five months, I have been alluding to "something big" that will be coming up. I can now share this news with all of you!! I am changing jobs!

In February I made the realization that I needed to switch careers so that my focus was more along the lines of what I would like to actually make a career of doing for the rest of my adult life. I knew that this would be a very difficult thing to do and I knew that it would be hard for me to find a job in the area I wanted since I don't have much career experience in that particular field and I do not have my degree yet. After talking it over with Austin, we came to the decision that it would make more sense for us both financially if I were to become a full-time student or find a new job. With all the new classes I was taking and more time at the studio, we were just having a really hard time making ends meet. With financial aid for being in class full-time every semester, we would be better off. Or I needed to find a new job that would be able to give me the drastic pay raise we needed.

So, I set myself with a deadline of August to find a new job or I would quit. I would work part-time somewhere, but I would be taking twice as many classes. And, despite what I thought, I was able to find the perfect position! In two weeks, the day after Memorial Day, I'll be starting my new role as a Marketing Assistant.

I'll admit it, I'm absolutely terrified about starting a new job with new people and new responsibilities and in a completely new line of work. But, I'm also really excited. I got the news this morning and I have been on top of the world since then. This is the big break that I was hoping for, yet I never though I would get it. I'm looking forward to meeting all of the new people in this company and working somewhere new and exciting. I'm looking forward to learning a foreign industry to me. I'm terrified of leaving here, but I'm also really excited.

I'm also sad that I'll be leaving all of the wonderful people that I've worked with for the past four years. I have started to spread the news, telling the people I'm closest to first. I was a little surprised that some of them were as upset as they were. A few people cried at the news, I can only imagine what the next two weeks are going to be like... There are a lot of wonderful people here that I will miss. We've become very close and it's going to be sad to know that I wont see them every day. But, I know that I have to move on to the next step in life. I can't stay in a position that isn't moving my overall goals in life forward just because I'm friends with some of the people here.

I know the next two weeks are going to be an emotional roller coaster. I know the day I start my new job I will be a nervous wreck. I know that this is the start of something big, new, and exciting.

Self Congratulations

I don't usually brag, but I feel like I deserve to have a moment of self congratulations. Since I've finished my first year in college with a 4.0 and a full time job and while putting as many hours into dance as most do into a varsity sport, I think I can take a moment to do this.