Talent and Remembering

So as all my friends know I sing, have sang since I was young, would sing with a hairbrush in my hand in front of mirrors. I was always chosen when I was little to have solo's in church productions and always thought "why me?".  I guess the adults like what they heard.  I enjoy singing, I loved choir when I was in middle school to high school, auditioned for All State Choir my senior year and got accepted.

After high school graduation,   I traveled to Europe for three weeks with the American Music Abroad all thanks to my high school choir director who nominated those from All State Choir.  My parents and I saw this as a golden opportunity and didn't pass it up.  It was my graduation present from my family.  Best experience of my young life, be with other people who shared my passion of music, rehearsals, sing all genre's of songs, and the best part, to view the sights of Europe while singing.  The tour started in Germany, then got to stay in Holland for four days with a host family.  I loved Holland, it was beautiful, the family was so nice, and the windmills were amazing! Some of the major places were France, Switzerland (absolutely gorgeous room we had with the Alps in the background, I will never forget that place and for it's chocolate!!), and Austria (Home of The Sound of Music).  It was an amazing trip, one I never forget to this day nineteen years later.  We toured for three weeks.  I am still keep in touch with my roommate Jen who was on the tour and from my high school, we were the only two that went so we roomed together and someone I met on the trip Brian, who is living an amazing career doing what he loves, music.  We stay in touch via Facebook and it is so nice.  Now that this has triggered me pulling out the scrapbook I started with the photos and have yet to finish.  ( I so need to finish).  I also found room lists.  Maybe I will see if I can find some other old friends.  I posted some pictures below of the trip from 1992 and some views.  Again, what a fun, amazing, musical, time!

 Eiffel Tower, view as I walked towards it.  We got to climb as far up as we could because we didn't know the top of the Tower was shut down for Bastille Day.  A French holiday on the 14th of July where they shoot off Fireworks from the Tower.  It was nice to view that as an added bonus that night, but some of my tour friends got hit with fireworks, because a lot of locals were firing their own down on the grounds as we were leaving...not very safe...we walked fast to get out of there...overall though a very nice visit and I can say I have been to the Eiffel Tower in my lifetime.

Beautiful Fountain in the center square of Salzburg, Austria.  This city is Mozart's birthplace as well as where the Sound of Music is shot.  I believe in the Sound of Music you can see this fountain in the film.

Friends I made on the trip that I hung around with the most.  The guy center in the lime jacket is Brian who I still talk to and to his right in the red with the red headband is my roommate on the trip, Jen.

This is the whole gang I hung out with sitting down to eat lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe in Paris, France.  Can you find me?  LOL  I am on the right front and center in the blue and white shirt.

A picture that I took, this is not a postcard.  We were standing on the street and this was the view looking up at Mad Ludwigs Castle in Neuschwanstein, Germany.  We got to tour inside however because of all the murals on his walls there are no camera's allowed.  Many people travel to this destination to see his castle. More information on him: http://www.german-way.com/ludwig.html

 This is another group of friends I hung out with as well.  We were enjoying a break in the mountains of Austria.

Finally, some pictures I took of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.  Forgive me as they are old, but I took a shot of the front of the Cathedral and the Altar inside.  Camera's were discouraged and I could only get a shot of the Altar.  They have beautiful paintings lining the walls all the way up to the altar, but flashes age the paintings so I didn't get any.  The choir got to sing in here and that is a highlight of the trip I will always remember.It's soooo nice to have this blog to share my past experiences and what I have done.

On to another topic and what got this blog going.  I was listening to Adele this morning on YouTube.  I have such a great appreciation for raw talent that I am really liking Adele's music.  She is a 23 year old British singer that doesn't fit the "cookie cutter" mold.  Her voice is beautiful, raspy, jazzy, and just rare.  There isn't anything out there like her right now and she is so refreshing.  Here are two songs of her's that I love and listen to.  

 I have to work on getting her album.  I love when the music industry puts out good talent, especially singers who can sing live!