The Start of Autumn

It's getting to that time of year where the air starts to get crisp and cool (doesn't get above 100!) and the leaves are starting to change (nearly).  A lovely time to go for a nice walk and enjoy the fall air or sit in a coffee shop drinking a pumpkin spice latte and eating some warm pumpkin bread.  Or, if you're a college student, it's a great time for study, study, and more study!  Mid-terms are almost upon us and we're right in the thick of classes with a test or paper around every corner. (I had three tests in four school days a bit ago!)   Even so, I have found that a short break to take a walk  can be quite refreshing on the brain.  Students can only concentrate for so long.  My sister Carol keeps reminding me of this when I get stressed out about a test. (Thanks, Carol!)
Oh, I nearly forgot, this is also the time of year when colds and the flu are invading the campus like the ants invade our kitchen in the summer.  I'm taking a microbiology class this semester which is making me very aware the of gazillions of bacteria surrounding us.  Here's a little advice to try and stay healthy for those tests: wash your hands frequently (you wouldn't believe the bacteria we found on door handles), carry tissues so you don't wipe your nose with your hand, this spread germs and you can wipe germs onto your nose, take vitamin C, and last but not least, SLEEP!  Some college students think that sleep is overrated, but it is definitively not.  Without enough sleep, our brains don't function at their full potential and we can get sick more easily because our body is not rested.  In my Psychology class today, we were talking about sleep (what a coincidence...) and our teacher mentioned that cramming for a test by staying up the night before is really the worst thing you can do.  Lack of sleep affects your memory and if you will have a better chance remembering things if you have more sleep.  Also, an interesting fact I learned in the same Psych class, we have a built-in time in  the afternoon to take naps. It varies from person to person, but 3-5pm is a general time when people's brains are the slowest in the day.  This is why my Mom always says never to get a haircut at 4:30, because it will almost never be a very good one.

On that note, I am going to close this post and snuggle up in my warm bed.

"In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe."
Psalm 4:8

Pentatonix!

I just got back from a Pentatonix concert!!  It was completely amazing, of course.
For those who don't know, Pentatonix is an A Cappella group who won the Sing Off.  The started as a trio from Arlington, TX (Scott, Mitch, and Kirsty) and added Avi and Kevin for their bass and beat boxer when they competed in the Sing Off.
I've been pretty busy lately and have not had any time to post about going to see Pentatonix before now.  Even though school just started, I've already had a few quizzes and my first big test coming up on Tuesday. So, right now, Carol and  I are in Saginaw, TX, staying with her best friend, her husband and little girl. The ride down was fairly eventful so I may post about that some other time.
Back to Pentatonix,
Pentatonix sang at the Levitt Pavilion in Arlington for their opening concert on their tour.  It was an outside concert, and the best part about it: it was free!! We were originally planning to get to the venue at least one hour before the concert started to try and get semi-decent seats, but one thing led to another and we didn't get there until 20 or 30 minutes before the start of the concert. It was a pretty small venue and there were a million people there. Well, it seemed like there were a million, but it was closer to 12,000, which was still quite a few.  We searched for a place to put our lawn chairs, but the only place we could find was way off to the side in the back and we could only see the front part of the stage.  You could still see the performers, but Carol and I wanted to see the whole stage and I wanted to get closer to get some pictures.  It actually turned out okay because Carol and I walked around until we found a pretty decent place to stand. I thought I'd mind standing for the whole concert, but it really wasn't bad at all. Of course, I took lots and lots of pictures and videos. Too many, I'm sure, but hey, there have got to be some good ones in there somewhere!
Any problems in getting there were completely forgotten once Pentatonix picked up their mics and took the stage.  I couldn't help but smile at their first note.  Carol and I got a little fan girl crazy when Avi started singing bass, I can tell you that much.  I love to sing A Cappella music in choir, so it was great to hear Pentatonix singing live.  What they do is so difficult, but they make it look easy!
I'm getting super tired, so I should probably go to bed before I start typing gibberish. But before I bid adieu, I will post some pictures!

Good night to all, and to all a good night!

Psalm 98:4

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music."