back online ~!!~

I do apologize for my laziness... It has been almost a month since I posted to my blog - but, I do have a very good excuse. I feel like elementary school, forgetting to turn in my homework.

First, let me go back to before I left the UK. The day before my recital, my parents came over for their first (and only) visit. My mom has never been out of the US (does Canada count?), so this was an extra special trip for her. They came over to hear my final recital, which went really well, although I still don't know what grade I got (does it really matter?!?). Anyway, after that we got to visit and sight-see around Manchester a bit until Mary arrived a few days later.

We planned to go up to Scotland, and take a train-trip through the Highlands and some of the more scenic country-side. It was incredible. We got to see some of the most beautiful landscapes that I have ever seen. The train was beautiful, the food was amazing, it was great relaxing with my family, and just enjoying some well-needed time away from the horn.


After we got back from Scotland, my parents took off for the US, because they had been there for almost 10 days and needed to get home. Mary stayed with me for another couple of days, and we went down to Paris for a meeting with Buffet-Crampon and Besson about me becoming a Besson Artist. The meeting went well, and I am an artist, but can't post anything officially yet, because I still have to sign paperwork once it arrives from France.

I took along a good friend from the RNCM, Phillip Schwartz, who had been to Paris before and spoke fluent French. Neither myself nor Mary could even count to 10 in French, so we thought that we should bring someone along who could help us - and more company to visit a great city.

We saw all of the major sights, and decided that we needed to come back to Paris for more than 2 days to see even more of it!
The next day, I left the UK for good - at least until I venture back for a visit. It was a great home for a year. I felt like I learned things over there that I couldn't have learned in the US. I developed as a musician, and as a person, and now I'm ready to take over the world. I will have a retrospective for the year on my next post - hopefully that won't be a month from now! ;)

After I returned home, I basically crashed for awhile. I was so tired, I could barely do anything. During my little break from reality, my cousin Colleen got married, which was awesome, also I took my annual fishing trip to Canada with my Dad where I managed to catch 4 trophy Lake Trout! I have never caught a Lake Trout, but this time I managed to catch 4. Geez! And, after I got back from Canada I moved to Phoenix. Right now I am sitting in my new place typing this message, and it feels great. I am not living in a tiny dorm room (I love you UK), I am not living out of a suitcase - - - I am home. Good stuff. More info later, and enjoy the pictures! Thanks to everyone who made my year in the UK great, but it is definitely good to be back in the US!