Florida is easily the best location for Spring Break. Of course, I have always gone to the Gulf of Mexico simply because the beaches are beautiful and the water is crystal clear. Here are a few beaches that are on the top of my vacation list. I recommend each for its unique features…
1. Siesta Key Beach aka Paradise
2. Fort Myers Beach aka Crowds-R-Us
3. Venice Beach Jetty aka Home of “Anita’s Sandcastle HOT DOG”
This song is such a blessing and has been reaching me right where I am at in life. David Crowder is one of the most inspiring, energized, and authentic songwriters I have experienced. His raw lyrics and catchy melody are driven from his walk with God and eagerness to be real in his faith. I have found that sometimes the best therapy for the soul is music. Check out this link of Crowder’s Let Me Feel You Shine, acoustic and uncut…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_xbOF2ejHY
This is clearly one of the best movies of all time. No Country For Old Men, directed by the Cohen Brothers, has a gripping plot and one of the most twisted characters I have ever seen. Set in the desert of West Texas, this story unfolds with all the elements needed in a good film: drugs, money, guns, revenge, fate, and horror. Going into any further detail would not do the film justice, you just need to check it out!
This past weekend, my fiance and I traveled to Chicago, Illinois to do engagement pictures and tour the city. I have been to the city several times and it is easily on of my favorite areas to visit. It seems that we always drive up Lake Shore Drive and find our way from there. Chicago’s Science and Industry Museum, Soldier Field, Shedd Aquarium, and Navy Pier are each located directly off of Lake Shore Drive and impossible to miss. Here are a few photos of the area:
A few pointers when going to the city:
1. Eat at Giordano’s
2. Visit Lincoln Park Zoo; it’s free…
3. Research parking areas with low fares. If you don’t, this could easily be the most expensive component of the visit!
Enjoy your trip!
I picked up my first harmonica, a Hohner Blues Harp in the Key of C.
With a recent fascination in country-folk and bluegrass, the blues have apparently become appealing, as well. It’s not that I did not enjoy this music before, but now I have an understanding of its roots and interpretation. With a world revolving around the world wide web, it more than easy to find material and lessons for learning these new styles of music.
Oftentimes, folk and country music follows the 1st position (straight harp), whereas the blues is played in 2nd position (cross harp). As a beginner harmonica player I would purchase a harp in key of C. This harmonica will give you great sound and plays blues in the key of G.
Here is a great diagram that explains the notation on a diatonic harmonica in the key of C.
Although this article is very basic and short on information, these basics will help introduce the harmonica. Go pick one up and mess around with it. It’s a great instrument that is easy to begin playing, yet always can become more complex. Take the challenge and best of luck!
Over this past Thanksgiving Break I not only turned 22, I also at plenty of delicious food, and to top it all off… got engaged. Believe it or not, I met my fiance here at USF and now we’re tying the knot. Disclaimer: USF is not the only place to find your soul mate, but watch out, there’s a good chance 🙂
I know, I know it’s not good enough to simply state “I’m Engaged!” Following that statement I am supposed to tell the whole story. Here it is in a nut shell…
My birthday was on November 25 and so Emily, my fiance, was planning a special birthday trip to my surprise. I quickly took note after finding her plan to surprise me and went for the counter-effect. You see she is so sneaky that any hint at something out of the ordinary on my part would give away the whole undercover plan. So I, doing my best to maintain composure and not freak out at the thought of finally proposing the question, planned to ask her during my birthday surprise.
As a person who loves music, she had the great idea of traveling to Cleveland, Ohio to watch City and Colour at the House of Blues.
This was going to be an epic event. We left for Cleveland on a rainy Sunday afternoon, so excited to see a concert and explore a new city. Neither of us had been to the city before so of course there was some adventure in finding the venue and other attractions. Just my luck though, in Cleveland it was raining. HARD. But this would not stop my plan…
I also somehow forgot that at 5pm it would be pitch black outside. In all the anxious planning, I was quickly finding I did not have much of a good plan for asking such an important question. We arrived in Cleveland and to my relief we found parking a few blocks  from the House of Blues and near a large central square. This square had a small park filled with Christmas lights, decorations, and even familiar Christmas carols jingling in the background. Despite the scenery, it was still pouring rain.
I quickly surveyed the area for the perfect spot to propose and found a large Christmas tree, well lit and at the center of all the decorations. I guess in hindsight, the spur-of-the-moment planning was exciting and to my advantage worked out perfectly. We wandered over to the spot I suggested, entirely too slow, though. My emotions were going a million miles per second. We stopped in front of the tree and I suggested that we try to take a picture of the scenery (in the down pouring rain). As she tried to fit the landscape into the frame of her iPhone camera, which took a lot of effort and time, I quickly stood behind her and got down on my knee. That’s right, right in a huge puddle on the ground.
I tried to get her attention and when she turned around, completely caught off-guard, the loudest scream known to man pierced my ears. She forgot to even answer my question as she jumped into my arms. (Note to self: A screaming girl in the dark, city environment is typically not passed off as normal.) I am sure all the strangers standing around were very startled. The proposal went perfectly and afterwards we enjoyed an incredible concert.
So if you are looking for that long, lost soul mate, and also an education, I guess, come check out USF 🙂 Thanks for listening!
Last year at this time I was sitting in Gainesville, GA, a city about 3o miles northeast of Atlanta. I found an incredible opportunity to intern with Adventures In Missions as a marketing intern through USF. The time of season could not have been better, as in I learned how to utilize my education, thus far, and established excellent professional experience. Working in a new environment, completely independent from the usual setting in Northern Indiana, was very rewarding.
Entering my final semester at USF, there is not much better advice I can give to college bound students outside of seeking new experiences. Try new things, go to strange places, interact with new people, stretch your limit of comfortable. Limiting your life to things you have always known seems so comfortable, yet leaves us uninformed. I encourage you to dream, have vision, and pursue anything that will develop your character. We could all use a little push in that direction.
I recently picked up a copy of Praise Habit at Barnes and Noble, not only for inspiration, but also to escape the countless hours in an apartment with no internet, television, or ability to play music. Reading, a fairly new phenomena for me, seems to pass the time quickly and is actually a quiet activity that I enjoy. As a musician, I cannot remember the last time silence was enjoyable.
God’s blessed me with an incredible apartment, but it is in no capacity the ideal location for a college student. For someone who loves music and does not eat the early bird special with a bedtime of 9pm, the noise restrictions, quiet hours, and close proximity of neighbors makes for a difficult scenario. OK, sarcasm aside, it is has been a surprising blessing to be forced to change from my previous daily routine.
Instigated by my current living situation, I have been forced to realize that life with constant noise is unnecessary and life with constant comfort is unrealistic. I have begun to appreciate the quiet hours because it is in those times I can truly experience peace. It’s funny how often we feel stressed, anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, or even rushed, but we fail to unplug the noise. Absence of music, phones, television, radio, internet, iPods, and even friends allows a new perspective on life that allows you to encounter life and God as you will. I believe God has thrown me this “change-up” to develop my character and encourage me to learn new things.
Praise Habit is an inspiring, refreshing text, written by songwriter and worship pastor David Crowder. It examines several of the Psalms, explaining praise as a lifestyle rather than a designated event. Crowder’s excellent writing style and first-hand experience encountering God’s love is a result of praise habit. This book has given me a breath of fresh air, amidst the moments in an empty apartment where microwaves beeping, toilets flushing, and drone t.v. talk shows creeping through the walls are a constant, stale noise.
Virtual Visit Day is streaming live, this Thursday, October 27, from 4-9pm.
What is Virtual Visit Day?
A chance for prospective students, worldwide, to interact with our students and learn about the USF experience. We have several students volunteering their time to share funny stories, experiences, direction, and inspiration with anyone interested in studying at USF. Anyone from nursing, creative arts, business, and even athletics will all be involved in the Virtual Visit. This is your chance to see our campus without even leaving your house! To join our Virtual Visit Day you will need to create an account on College Week Live. Can’t wait to see you there.
I have been exposed to some excellent music lately. My favorite artists are songwriters who sound simple in their music, yet complex in their lyrics. My taste in music varies considering I like Folk, Indie, Pop, Americana, and even a little country. If you have a chance, check out these artists….. (they are in no particular order)
1. Andrew Belle (the ladder, oh my stars, etc.)
2. City and Colour (little hell, the grand optimist, the girl)
3. Ryan Bingham (junky star, mr. dylan’s hard rain, the poet)
4. Will Reagan and the United Pursuit (set a fire, nothing i hold on to)
5. Andrew Ripp (savior, peace like a river)
6. Thrice (come all you weary)
7. The Avett Brothers
8. Bon Iver
9. Mat Kearney
10. Johnny Cash
ENJOY!
Aaron West 