| I play the “this point in time” game with my life regularly. You know, the: “this time last year I was doing this” or “this time last week this happened” or “this time tomorrow I’ll be doing this!” So here we go, time to do a little of that on the blog. This time last year, I was getting ready to start my third year of the Sociology PhD program at Vanderbilt and Javier was applying for a new job (he started working there in October). Meanwhile, Javier had been taking prerequisites for nursing school and was also applying for the nurse practitioner program at Vanderbilt University. | Tengo un juego que llamo “este momento en el pasado” y lo juego regularmente con mi vida. Saben…”en esta fecha el ano pasado estaba haciendo esto” o “este momento la semana pasado paso esto” o “a esta hora manana hare esto!”. Asi que aqui vamos, es la hora de hacerlo en el blog. Esta fecha el ano pasado, estaba preprandome para mi tercer ano en el Doctorado de Sociologia en Vanderbilt y Javier estaba postulando a un nuevo trabajo (comenzo a trabajar alli en Octubre). En ese entonces, Javier habia terminado sus prerequisitos y esperaba escuchar sobre su postulacion al programa de enfermeria en Vanderbilt University. |
me and Javier this time last year in CO on our belated honeymoon
| Fast forward to February 2013 and that’s where things start to get a little crazy. At the beginning of the month my friend Josh asked me if I wanted to do some singing with the band Humming House. I’ve been a fan of Humming House for awhile and I’ve also been friends with Justin and Josh (two founding members – singer / ringleader / guitar and singer / mandolin, respectively) for almost a decade, so I was pretty thrilled that they threw my name in the hat when they started the search for a new female voice for the band. Kristen Rogers (listen to her on this Humming House track) was the female face / voice of HH since they started up two years ago, but she decided to pursue a different path of musical adventure leaving a spot open for me. I went on that first tour run back in March with the band and then again in May to Florida, and since then it’s been mostly rehearsing and getting my ducks in a row for our fall tour – and my first long tour with the band. | Nos saltamos a Febrero del 2013 y esta es la fecha donde las cosas comienzan a ponerse locas. A comienzos del mes mi amigo Josh me pregunto si me gustaria cantar con la banda Humming House. Ha sido una fan de Humming House por bastante tiempo y he sido amiga con Justin y Josh (dos de los miembros fundadores – cantante/lider/guitarra y cantante/mandolin respectivamente) for casi una decada, asi que estaba feliz de que pusieran mi nombre en el abanico de nombres cuando comenzaron a buscar una nueva vocalista mujer para la banda. Kristen Rogers (escuchenla en esta cancion de Humming House) era la cara y voz femenina de HH desde que comenzaron 2 anos atras, pero decidio seguir un rumbo distinto en su aventura musical, dejando la vacante. Finalmente pude hacer un mini tour con ellos en Marzo y de nuevo en Mayo en Florida, y desde entonces ha sido solo ensayar y preparar todo para el tour del otono – y mi prime tour largo con la banda. |
| Part of my prep to going on this fall tour was finishing up my master’s degree in the Soc program (it’s a master’s / PhD program, so you finish your master’s and then continue on to the PhD). I took my first comprehensive exam in the spring and passed, but I still needed to finish up my thesis before the fall. I’m happy to say that I got my committee’s approval after more than a year of working on this beast, and turned it in two weeks ago along with my “intent to graduate” form to get the official master’s degree. After I turned it in, I said goodbye to the campus for the next year. I’ll be taking a 1-year hiatus from the program to focus on music and get a little (much-needed) break from the academic world. I’ve been in higher-ed since 2004 and in graduate school since 2008; this is my second master’s degree. It’s time for some fun. | Parte de mi preparacion para ir en este tour del otono fue terminar mi magister en Sociologia (el programa es un doctorado con un magister de por medio, asi terminas el magister y continuas al doctorado). Tome mi primer examen de grado en la primavera y lo pase, aun necesitaba terminar mi tesis de magister antes del otono. Estoy feliz de decir que obtuve la aprobacion de mi comite despues de mas de un ano entero trabajando en esta bestia de tesis, y pude inscribir mi “deseo de graduacion” para que me den el magister oficialmente. Despues de eso, le dije adios al campus por un ano. Me voy a tomar un ano antes de seguir el programa para enfocarme en la musica y tener un pequeno (muy merecido) descanso del mundo academico. He estado en la universidad desde el 2004, me gradue el 2008, y luego complete 2 magisters. Es hora de divertirse. |
| Speaking of Vanderbilt and master’s degrees, Javier found out back in the spring that he was accepted to the Vanderbilt MSN program!! His focus is on adult gerontology acute care, which sounds really intense. It’s a 2-year non-stop program (i.e. he’ll be taking classes in the summer too) and he’ll finish up in August of 2015. When he comes out on the other side he’ll be a Nurse Practitioner and have a master’s in nursing. He’s excited and I’m thrilled for him – what an incredible year! First his citizenship and now this Vanderbilt nursing program. 2013 has been very good to both of us so far! | Hablando de Vanderbilt y de mi magister, Javier supo en la privamera que fue aceptado al programa de Magister en enfermeria en Vanderbilt!! Se enfocara en cuidado de pacientes geriatricon en estado agudo , lo que suena muy intenso. Es un programa de 2 anos sin descanso (tendra que tomar clases durante el verano tambien) y terminara en Agosto del 2015. Cuando termine tendra un magister en enfermeria. Estoy emocionada y muy contenta por el – que ano increible! Primero su ciudadania y ahora el programa en Vanderbilt. El 2013 ha sido un muy buen ano para ambos hasta ahora! |
| So the craziness of these two new steps in the los Rodriguez life start up in about a week. Humming House is embarking on the Fall Forward 2013 tour and heading to North Carolina the weekend of 8/18, and Javier starts up with orientation for school that same week. Things aren’t just changing a little bit around here – it’s a complete overhaul of the LRL and everything that we are used to! We’re both really excited about the new adventures coming up, and we’ll be posting updates as usual here on the blog. So take a sec and bookmark the blog or sign up for automatic updates whenever we post a new entry to keep up with everything that’s going on! Also, be sure to check out the Humming House website, facebook, twitter and photoblog that I’ll be updating while we’re on the road. If we’re coming to a city near you, come and say hey!! | Asi que la locura de estas nuevas etapas en la vida de los Rodriguez comienza en una semana. Humming House comienza el Tour de Otono y vamos a Carolina del Norte el fin de semana del 18 de Agosto, y Javier comineza la orientacion de su programa la misma semana. Las cosas no estan cambiando solo un poquito por aca, sino que es un cambio drastico en nuestras vidas y en too lo que estamos acostumbrado! Estamos los dos muy felices con las aventuras que vienen, y postearemos noticias como siempre en el blog. Asi que tomen un minuto para guardar le direccion o enotarse a los emails automaticos para las actualizaciones! Tambien acuerdense de visitar el sitio web de Humming House, Facebook, twitter, y photoblog que yo mantendre actualizado cuando estemos viajando. Si vamos a una ciudad cerca de donde estand ustedes, vengan a saludarnos! |
Los Rodriguez Life 
9 responses to “Big changes in the LRL (don’t get too excited – no baby announcements here)”
Change is good! Sounds like you guys are embracing it 🙂
We’re with you! Look forward to updates on both fronts.
very very cool on all fronts. wish u were coming to michigan )
I wish we were too! Our mando player is from Michigan and I know he’s got alot of friends there – so maybe we’ll make it soon!
ann arbor would love you guys )
I’m familiar with many of the places your are touring good luck
good luck with the NP program. I’ve been a NP for 13 years rock on Javier
Awesome!! Thanks so much! Sounds like NP is the way to go – we’re so excited. He starts today! Ah!
Such awesome news! Congrats to both of you!! 🙂
Thanks D!!!! We hope you are doing well