Happy Birthday McKinley!!

Hello everyone!

Today is the little man's birthday!!  I can't believe he is 12...
Such a happy lil pup  ;)

to celebrate, we went on a little walk to our backyard park/forest/hills  =)

man... I just can't get over how beautiful our neighborhood is.  Though I love living in Boston, I just have such a sweet spot in my heart for the Pacific North West, and I hope to live here at some point when I'm all grown up   haha  ;)

Everyone thinks it rains all the time in Seattle, but that's not actually true.  I mean, yes, it rains quite a bit, but no more than it snows in other places in the winter.  It is, however, rare to see a sunny day in the winter, so it was nice to have that for our outing  =)

Though he is 12, he could still outrun most other puppies  ;)

the one nice thing about him aging is that he is a lot better trained now  haha  well, I'm not really sure that it's being better trained as much as him getting mellowed out, but either way, he's much more manageable  ;)  If you would have known him when he was an actual pup...  man, he was a piece of work...  haha

hehe with my parents.  so cute  =)

my bebe!!  he'll always be my lil man  =)

It was such a fun outing, and I hope we get to do some more while I'm here!

Happy birthday lil man, we love you, and we hope you live for many many many years to come!  =)

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Janny

Last 2 Days in Houston

Hello everyone!

I can't believe it's been almost a week since I graduated!  Since then, David and I have been jet-setting around the globe (well only half the globe to be exact  haha), but I wanted to take the time to share our last 2 days in Houston!

Since we had to attend commencement ceremonies both mornings, and then we flew out of Houston in the afternoon of the second day, we didn't really have much time, but we managed a trip to the Houston Zoo (getting use out of the Rice student ID one last time!) and tried 2 different restaurants that I wish I had tried earlier, so if you want to see/read more about them, keep on scrolling!

I had been the the Houston Zoo once before, but it was nice to take a stroll around with daddy on a gorgeous day.  Besides, these two bears kept us entertained for good 15 minutes at the zoo chasing each other and generally being their adorable, playful selves.

and look at this cute little bum getting stuck trying to climb over the ledge!  haha!  They were just the cutest things.

After we tore our eyes away from the bears, we wandered around the zoo chatting and enjoying each other's company until we came upon the giraffe feeding station.  I had so much fun last time feeding them, and I knew dad would enjoy them, so we bought ourselves some lettuce and climbed up to the feeding station.

Giraffes, in my mind, are such exotic creatures, and getting to feed them was so much fun!  They were very enthusiastic about the lettuce, and often we had more than one giraffe tongue reaching out for the leaf in our hands.  I have to say, they have possibly the longest tongue I have ever seen on an animal!  haha

aww they were crossed with us for not giving them any more lettuce..    ooh see what I did there?  =p  i crack myself up sometimes ahaha

ok, enough of that.. haha we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at the zoo, and turned our attention to our growling tummies.

We chose to try Cafe Brasil because for 2 years of my stay at Rice, I've heard my friends raving about the place, but for some reason, I had never been!  they have a beautiful patio surrounded by oak trees, and since it was such a gorgeous day, we decided to sit out there and order their Poblano Burger and the Chicken Verde pizza.

The burger was quite good, but the pizza really stole the show for me!  The pizza takes a bit longer to come out, but let me tell you what.. it's totally worth the wait!  You drizzle the lemon slice on top of the bed of arugula, and dig into the creamy, delicious, garlicky goodness!  really soo soooo good.  If you are still in Houston, or are planning to visit, you should definitely go give this place a try!  =)

Later that evening, we went to Goode BBQ so dad could have the full Texas experience, and after stuffing ourselves with so much meat, we celebrated the boy's birthday! so many candles!  such an old man!  ;)  but my family still thinks he looks 18  haha

For our last meal in Houston, we went to Benjy's.  We tried to go there for our first date, but because we didn't have a reservation, that didn't end up happening.  So this time around, we made a reservation, and I'm so glad that we could eat there before I left Houston! 

The decor inside is a really interesting mix of modern and antique feel, and the atmosphere was very laid back and comfortable.  We ordered three very different dishes-- shrimp and grits, salmon salad, and chicken and waffles--and all of them were really spot on!

oh chicken and waffles. I always thought that was an odd mix, but ever since I first tried it at 1 am on that fateful night, I've been hooked.  It is the quintessential southern meal in my mind, and it will always make me think of my time in Houston and Rice every time I have it I'm sure  =)

What a great way to close the Houston/Rice chapter of my life!  It has really been a wonderful time in my life, and I will always think back on this time very fondly.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

--Janny

Rice Graduation 2014!

Hello everyone!

Almost exactly 2 years ago, I started this blog, having just graduated from University of Nebraska-Lincoln with my Bachelor's degree.  And here I am, 2 years and 2 days later, in the exact same spot at home, having just graduated from Rice University with my Master's degree!! man,, time has really flown by!  2 years of my life...  I can't believe it!  

I feel so blessed to have had the chance to study and meet so many amazing people at Rice these past two years, and though it was only 2 years (and that's really quite a short period of time), I have really come to think of Rice as home..  While I am so excited for the next chapter of my life to begin in Boston (one of my favorite cities), saying good bye to Rice and everyone there was definitely bitter sweet.

But before I get too sappy, let's get on with the festivities!

GRADUATION!!!  YAYYYYY!!!

Such a joyous occasion, isn't it?  

No matter how much you love the school, and no matter how sad it will be to leave it and move on, there's something incredibly exciting about graduating.  The whole school is full of energy, there are friends and family everywhere, and really, just the whole atmosphere is electrifying.  All of the hours toiling away in the practice room or in the library, the blood and the tears... (ok, maybe not blood... mm actually, yes blood. mmhmm)  it was all worth it, and you are finally done!!!

Rice decided to have 2 ceremonies, one for each of the degrees (Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate) and one for everyone, and since my Dad was coming, I decided to attend both! The only downside to attending both of the ceremonies was probably the fact that we had to line up at the crack of dawn... ok, so maybe not really the crack of dawn, but 7:30 A.M is close enough for me haha.  I had doubts about whether or not I could wake up for it, but what do ya know, I managed to get myself out of bed at 6, get ready, and line up in time!  Now, they probably didn't need us to be there so early because we had about an hour to burn as we waited for the ceremony to actually begin, but we made good use of that time and took some photos!

yay for sneaking in my phone to the ceremony   haha

and we also got in a selfie right before we were called to line up to enter   haha

and here we go!

Rice had separate ceremonies for Undergrads, Master's, and Doctorate candidates so that the Commencement wouldn't be so long, and that made our ceremony really short.  all of us got to go up and take our fake diplomas (real ones are coming in the mail in about 6 weeks I guess) and it only took about 45 minutes!

After the ceremony, there was a reception at the music building (wait.. where is that building again..? haha), and lots and lots and llooottss of photo taking, so here are a couple of those  =)

With Daddy!!

and with the boy. We met during my first semester at Rice and started dating soon after, so Rice will always have a special place in our hearts  =)

got the hood (that goes all the way to my butt) for my degree, pink velvet for music (why!! why pink?!  ok, I suppose pink isn't so bad  haha), and blue and silver chevron for Rice!  =D

and the Master's degree graduating class of 2014!!  

wooohooooo~~  We're freeeeee~~

oops, the professors joined us. getting our acts together and posing nicely for one more photo  haha

The next day, we had the Commencement for the whole school with a very inspiring speech by Dr. Gayle, President and CEO of CARE USA. That day, we were so incredibly thankful that we didn't have to sit through everyone going up to the stage, shaking hands with the president, getting our fake degrees, and walking back down.  Houston is in full summer mode and the ceremony was outside in the blazing sun, so even though I was wearing a light summer dress under the robe, I was still dying by the time the shortened ceremony was over.  Thankfully, the Graduate Student Association had icy water bottles ready for us when we walked through the archway (symbolic tradition for Rice folks)! We just had to go find the banner, and we were awarded with the life-saving liquid.  If you think that was a dramatic statement, you obviously didn't sit in the blazing Houston summer sun for a few hours in cap and gown...  haha

Rice, it's been incredible.  Thank you so much for all of the opportunities and the awesome people you bring together.  I will miss you and everyone that makes you so freakin amazing  ;)

I'm now back in Seattle, and I'm not sure that it has really sunk in that I won't be returning to Rice next year... but I'm super excited for this summer filled with traveling and performing, and I can't wait to share those adventures with you!  

Thank you for letting me share my life transitioning to and then living the graduate school life at Rice , and I hope to see you around as I do it all over again at Boston University for the next few years!  =)

Have a wonderful week, and thanks for stopping by!

--Janny

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Hello everyone,

Today is my daddy's birthday!! =D

Well, it is sort of his birthday...?

I mean, it is his birthday, but his birthday is not February 20.

It's actually January 11, but we celebrate it today because it's January 11 via the Lunar calendar.

so confusing, I know.  haha

But all that aside,

it's the birthday of this daddy's girl's favorite person ever,

so I hope he has a marvelous day  =)

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

writing our name into the glacier on our trip to Canada awhile back  =)

<3

--Janny

Celebrating 2012

Hello everyone!

I am currently in Bozeman, Montana, spending some time with Abers and her wonderful family, and waiting to be reunited as the Meadowlark Trio with Timmy on New Years Day!

And as I am sitting here, waiting to kick off 2013 with two recitals that I get to perform with my bestest friends, I can't help but be filled with incredible warmth, happiness, and gratefulness.

(more information on these recitals will be coming soon, but you can also go to our trio blog for the times and places!   =))

I have truly lead a blessed life, and I am so thankful for everyone who has played a part in making it so wonderful!  

One of the things I am really thankful for this year is the fact that I started this blog.  

I have never been good at keeping diaries of any sort,

but somehow, I have been able to keep up with uploading onto the blog at least once a week!

Perhaps it's the gentle nudgings from my family members who are scattered all over the world whenever I get lazy with the postings?

or perhaps I do find that blogging can be rather therapeutic, much the way others find diaries therapeutic?

or perhaps that I find it much more interesting than diaries because I can include pictures?

Whatever the reason, I am so glad that I kept up with the blogging because it's such a great way to look back and remember all of the wonderful things that has happened in the past year!

So here are some of the many things I am really grateful for this past year.

1. 

I am so grateful that I had a travel buddy during the most stressful time of the year; 

the audition season.

Meredith and I were both studying with Julie at UNL,

and both of us were auditioning for Master's programs this year.

Somehow, we were fortunate enough to not only have almost all the same schools on our list,

but also able to schedule all of our auditions at the same time!

This meant that we could travel together,

we rarely had to be alone in a foreign city,

and also that we each had a cheerleader by our side as we went to go kick some butt in the auditions!

I really couldn't have asked for a better traveling and auditioning partner!  ;)

Me trying to have Meredith hair.  at an antique store in Ann Arbor, MI.

2.

I am so grateful that I had so many opportunities to collaborate with amazing musicians/friends!

I had worked with Nels Drue Daily, who is really a wonderful composer, for a couple of years,

and this year was really an incredible year of collaboration with him!

He wrote a piece for April and I called "3 Impulses", and we got to perform that at a festival in Kearney earlier this year.

Then, our trio premiered a piece he wrote us called the "Meadowlark Rag" in May!

It is such a fun piece, and we are so excited to get to perform it again in the recitals coming up this week in Bozeman!

He is currently writing another piece for me and April, and we can't wait to premiere it in a recital next year!

Here's to another year of wonderful collaboration!  ;)

Abers and I with the Daily's.  Ashley and Nels; beautiful people, wonderful musicians.

In May, a couple of good friends and I formed a tango band, and gave a tango-ish/latin-ish recital!

It was my first time really venturing out and trying a different 'style' of music,

and it was So. Much. Fun!!

I got to try many things I had never had to do before like improvising and transcribing,

and it was fun to get to play with different instruments like the Cajon, the double bass, and the guitar.

We also premiered an original piece by our guitarist, Alexios Anest,

which had a bit of a bluegrass-ish kind of a feel, which was really fun as well  =)

Such a fun project! 

our tango-ish band  haha  ;)

Then, of course, there was the 'Friends Concert'.

It was a concert where the four of us performed different pieces with one another,

sort of as a farewell concert.

It was I believe the night before graduation?

the three of us--Michael, Tim, and I--were graduating,

so it was quite an emotional recital.

I'm glad we all got to play together though  =)

and actually, all four of us will be together again!

Funny how life works right?

we were so sad because we thought this concert would be our last,

but the Meadowlark trio is back together for a concert, and Michael is coming to join us to hang out!

I cannot WAIT for all of us to be together again!

friends.  there really could be a TV show about us--we went through so much together..  haha

3.

I am so grateful for so many graduations this year!

Mom graduated with her Master's degree, and also got her Nurse Practitioner certificate (go mommy!).

I graduated with my Bachelor's degree from UNL.

UNL will always hold a special place in my heart because it was a place that allowed me to pursue my love of music, my love of history, my short but intense interest in math, my interest in all sorts of different subjects of study, and my desire to always be neck deep in extra curricular activities.

I've also met wonderful friends through my involvements in different student organizations, and through Chi Omega Fraternity, and I've had the chance to work with incredible teachers and professors.

I am especially thankful for Julie for guiding me for those 4 years and also a couple years previous to my officially studying with her.

Without her, I probably would not have been able to pursue violin the way I am right now,

and for that, I am so incredibly thankful!  =)

and lil bro graduated with his high school diploma!

and I'm so glad I got to attend lil bro's graduation.

Yay for so many new and exciting beginnings!

4.

I am so grateful that I got to go on a road trip to San Francisco with lil bro and grandma!

What a city.  I would love to live there someday.

and road trips with your loved ones are the best!

5.

I am so grateful that I got to attend Emily's wedding!!

We've been friends since elementary/middle school, and it was so fun to celebrate with her as she began a completely new and exciting chapter in her life  =)

what a beautiful wedding--look at them glowing!  ;)   haha

6.  

I am so grateful that I was chosen to attend Foulger International Music Festival as one of their fellows!!

I had incredible performance opportunities with amazing musicians,

and met many wonderful people  =)

It was definitely a summer to remember!

with Allison Eldredge, Alex Beyer, and Hsin-Yun Huang.

favorite people  =)

7.

I am so grateful that Linda came to visit me in Seattle!!

We've been best friends since middle school, and I'm so glad we got to spend a week together before she went off to NYC to study in Columbia (she's a smart one  ;)  haha)

I can't wait to see her again soon... 

because we will!  somehow  ;)

8.

I am so grateful that I got accepted into Mr. Lin's Studio at Rice University Shepherd School of Music!

As I mentioned above, I was auditioning to pursue a Master's degree in Violin Performance,

and I was so ecstatic when I finally got the acceptance phone call from Rice.

In fact, the director of admissions told me that I had the best response he had ever heard  haha.

So glad I get to study with Mr. Lin at Rice and be a part of this amazing studio!

9.

I am so grateful that daddy came to help me get settled in Houston.

I really don't know how I could have done it without him.

It was the first time I had to set up an apartment from scratch, get a car, register different things, and etc, 

and I would have been a serious mess if he had not been there.

so, thanks daddy!!

you can see a bit of our Houston adventures (mostly of Rice campus) here.  

10.

I am so grateful that I had more opportunities for collaboration!

Rice hosts a Chamber Marahon every semester,

and this semester, I got to play in two different groups;

a piano, clarinet, and violin trio,

and a violin octet!

What wonderful people and what interesting music!  =)

Can't wait to collaborate with the trio again next semester

the Khachaturian Trio

Gran Turismo

11.

I am so grateful to have met so many new friends!

It was such a blast to meet so many new people from so many different schools at Rice,

as well as reconnect with friends I've known before,

mostly from high school (Interlochen Arts Academy)

There have been such epic parties like the Texas style BBQ

Thanksgiving!  

the TURDUCKENHEN.  4 birds.

and the Ugly Sweather Party!

12.

speaking of friends,,,

I am so grateful for my roomy, Amulet!

oh Amulet...  

I can't even count how many times we were both dying because we were laughing so hard...

though I can't remember what we were laughing about exactly,

(probably mostly at each other) 

we never fail to have these giggle/laughing episodes incredibly frequently.

Thank you for always trying to get me to practice,

then failing to practice yourself because we end up talking for hours on the floor in my room  haha

Though we are quite opposites, somehow we manage to coexist incredibly well,

and have a lot of fun doing so.  ;)

I'm so glad we are roomies Amulet, 

my Rice experience would never have been the same without you!

<3

13.

I am so grateful for wonderful friends and visitors to our apartment,

and the consequent baking sprees.

yuuuuummmmmm!!

they are documented here, here, and here.

Grace and Abers

Making of MO with David and Abers

14.

I am so thankful for the chance to join the Rice Ballroom Team.

I didn't think I would get to do ballroom at Rice,

and I can't express how elated I was when I found out that Rice also had a ballroom team!

It's been so fun getting to dance again and getting to know everyone on the team.

A few of our performances have been documented here, here, and here.

15.

I am so thankful for David.

Partna!!

It's been so great getting to know him through ballroom dancing, running, baking, cooking, hosting parties, David offering to help fix the things that Amulet and I have broken in our apartment, working, etc, etc.

Thanks for always being so thoughtful and caring, being excited to try new and different things, and for being willing to carry on a conversation with minimal input from me while running--because I can't put together long sentences when I'm focusing on putting one foot before the other.  haha  =p

Here's to another year full of the many things we enjoy doing together!

16.

and last, but not least,

I am SO incredibly thankful for my family.

I would not be who I am without them, and I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

My parents have always been incredibly supportive of everything I wanted to try,

--and trust me, there were many... my poor parents probably spent half of their lives in the car driving me back and forth to all of my extra curricular activities...  no joke--

and they have always been wonderful role models for me.

I am always so in awe at how they are able to juggle working incredibly hard, 

and yet always find time to enjoy life, have fun, and have time to spend with their loved ones.

happy 25th anniversary mom and dad!

much love!

and of course, my lil bro and my lil cuz.

they're both doing so well and growing into quite the gentlemen, if I may say so myself

--they always carry my luggage up to my room for me  ;)  haha

I am so proud of them for always working hard at whatever they set their minds to,

and growing into kind and respectful human beings.

After all, as our dad always says, you have to be a 'human' first before you become anything else.

--the 'human' is in quotations because when you say that in Korean, that means 'a kind and respectful human being'--

And finally, my baby.

McKinley

 I could gush and gush about my baby, but I've already done that so much on this blog that I should probably refrain  haha  =p

(the gushing can be seen if you click on the link above)

but yes, so glad he is a part of our family.

what a character, this guy.  

quite the lovable little devil   ;)

Wow, what a long post,,,

but it was an incredible year full of so many blessings  =)

I hope all of you had a wonderful year as well,

and here's to 2013!

I can't wait to see what it has in store for us!

Happy New Year!

--Janny