Little SoyBean

Why I Love Harry Potter

2012-01-26T17:34:00.003-07:00

I've been meaning to write this post ever since the last Harry Potter movie came out, and the series had come to a close on every source of media. I guess this can be my formal "THANK YOU!" to J.K. Rowling for writing these charming, thought-provoking, wonderful, compelling works of art. I know it sounds silly, but I feel as though I owe a lot to Rowling and her creativity.

I first started reading Harry Potter when I was 14 or so. I borrowed the first book from my cousin when I was on a family trip to Utah, and I was so engrossed on the way home that I kept reading the ending over and over again. The Harry Potter series holds a special place in my heart.

Why do I love it so much? First, the story is so fun, and I love learning about the magical world. It isn't all spells and wand waving, but magical business, government, food, etc. There is never a dull moment. My favorite aspect of the books, and what I'm writing about is how Rowling teaches so many life lessons. It's amazing how much wisdom is passed through the characters. It is sad that many people are against the books because the world Rowling creates is based on magic and sorcery. Harry Potter isn't satanic - it is a series about love, hard work, attitude, and reaching for dreams. In many ways it is similar to Charles Dickens' David Copperfield, or Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brookyln. Yes, the literary styles differ significantly, but the messages are analogous. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book that have had an impact on my life. Underneath each quote is what I've learned, and what each of us can take from the messages. You'll see why Harry Potter is such an asset to the world's library.

"As much money and life as you could want! The two things most human beings would choose above all - the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them."

-Albus Dumbledore

**Money isn't important, and won't bring us happiness. It isn't how much we have, or how long we have it, but what we do with the time we are given.

"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

-Albus Dumbledore

**Careers, talents, etc. are fleeting, and will inevitably mean nothing. Our choice to do what is right, help those around us, and to love others is what makes us who we are.

"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals."

-Sirius Black

**All people should be treated equally, no matter who they are, where they live, how much money they make, the color of their skin, or the religion they practice.

"Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it."

-Albus Dumbledore

**Pain and problems will not go away just because we choose not to face them. Only when we have worked through our problems will healing come.

"It is my belief... that the truth is generally preferable to lies."

-Albus Dumbledore

**Always tell the truth. Never lie. It will not get you anywhere.

"Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open."

-Albus Dumbledore

**When people see each other through lenses of love, and understanding, there is nothing we could not accomplish when banded together in purpose.

"It is the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more".

-Albus Dumbledore

**There is more than just life and death in this world.

"It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well."

-Albus Dumbledore

**Power and leadership, when worn with purpose and humility, can accomplish amazing things.

"He [Dumbledore] will only be gone from the school when none are loyal to him."

- Harry Potter

**The dead are never gone from us.

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”

-Albus Dumbledore

**Standing up to friends can be even more difficult. Just because they are friends doesn't mean we won't need to stand for ourselves. Always do what you think is right, no matter what your friends think. Believe in yourself.

"Dumbledore would have been happier than anybody to think that there was a little more love in the world."

-Professor McGonagall

**This needs no explanation.

I would like to restate something: It is sad that many people have come out against the books because the world Rowling creates is based on magic and sorcery. Harry Potter isn't satanic - it is a series about love, hard work, attitude, and reaching for dreams. If I were to sum up the main messages from the above quotes, it is surprising how many important concepts are covered.

Understanding
Purpose to Life
Meaning in Life
Honesty
Equality
Service
Live a full life
Humility
Self-Esteem
LOVE

Imagine if everyone who read the series walked away with this understanding, and then applied it to their lives? I'm willing to believe that the world would be a brighter, more loving place.

Love is so prominent in the books, and in the end, Love is what solves all of the problems Harry Potter is faced with.

Harry survived the killing curse because his mother loved him, and sacrificed her life for his.
Harry, Ron, and Hermoine loved each other, served each other, and fought for each other.
All of the members of The Order of The Phoenix loved their freedom, and fought for it.
Snape loved Harry's mother, and spent his life protecting Harry because of it.
And, in the end, Harry loved his friends, his schoolmates, and everyone who had struggled against Voldemort. When he gave his life for them, he imparted on them the same protection his mother had given him when he was a baby.

I feel like a total hippy with all this love talk (except that I wash my hair everyday), but there is a power in love that nothing else can duplicate.

I don't normally quote scripture, but I feel like this is appropriate. I'm putting references from both the Book of Mormon, and from the New Testament. Same meaning, just worded slightly differently.

And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

-Moroni 10:45

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

-1 Corinthians 13:4-7

And that is why I love Harry Potter.

Audition Season #4

2012-01-23T12:03:00.000-07:00

Auditions round 4 is upon me. It really does get better - I could probably find my way around any city, and public transportation is no big thing (thanks to living in SF for a year). So to all those who become big stress balls during audition season, calm down.

Just kidding, I don't play the marimba, I play oboe. I just like this picture, so I thought I'd post it.

For my friends and family who have no idea where I am:

Jan. 22- USC

Jan. 28- UT-Austin

Feb. 3- Boston University

Feb. 28- Northwestern

Mar. 3- Indiana

ASU is still TBA

USC is over, and I think it was pretty dang successful! Also, their library is very "Hogwartsy" which gets me really excited.

Good luck to all of my friends who are auditioning this season! Don't think of me as your enemy, I don't think of you as mine.

5k Race for the Cure

2011-11-21T11:30:00.000-07:00

On October 9th, Josie and I ran our first 5k! Actually, it was my first 5k, Josie's second or third. I know running is easy to other people, and a 5k isn't a big deal, but running hurts me, and I'm pretty proud of myself. It wasn't a timed race, which is good, because I run 11 minute miles.

Josie got these totally awesome General Dynamic hats from her work, and we even had numbers. There were a ton of people doing the run, and it got pretty warm outside.

We're signed up to do a Retro Run 10k in January. Get ready for bright colored leggings and leotards!

Strauss Oboe Concerto

2011-10-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

There is a problem when you get so frustrated that you sit down and type into your google search box "How to breathe through the Strauss Oboe Concerto exposition."

Nothing useful. Dang.

Scooter Snores

2011-09-07T11:32:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm sitting at my desk making reeds...(or writing a blog post)...and my cat Scooter is sleeping on my bed. This daily routine is pretty amusing. He really hates the oboe and reeds noises. When I was in high school and just learning how to play he used to come into my room and bite the back of my arms. That was when he was young though. Now he's an old man, nice and plump and he's too lazy to leave the room when I make reeds. Whenever I make noise on them, or play a few notes he puts his head up, makes a dusgruntled noise, then falls back to sleep. The best part is that recently he's been snoring, and if he's sleeping really well, his legs twitch. It's really amusing. Reasons for snoring can be found: Here. I blame his plump body, and the hairballs.

I you tubed some videos that are pretty hilarious to me, and probably to most cat people. Here ya go.

Oh man, this one really kills me. I'm laughing so hard right now.

Hahah, oh man. Is this funny to anyone else, or do I just need to take a break?

Pop Music Rant

2011-08-26T16:44:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about this post for a long time, actually every time I turn on the radio.

I'm just going to admit that I really like pop music. It's super fun to dance and sing along with, and every once in a while a really good one comes along.

I also listen to pop songs with really strong steady tempo's and play my scales to them. I'm a total dork - but it's a really good idea - those beats never falter! It's like your own personal rock out metronome. Also, you get to find out what key your favorite pop song is in. Currently the Katy Perry song I play my scales to is in F minor - Hah! Who knew!

Every once in a while a pop song exists that just drives me crazy: And here is my rant.

Pop Song No. 1:
Party Rock Anthem by: LMFAO

(disclaimer: Sorry if this music offends you...)

If you get through the chorus once, you'll hear what really bugs me -- but if you have the patience, you can listen to the entire song and get the full effect of annoyance. Be sure to pay attention to the music when he sings "house tonight" in the lyrics.

Whoever wrote this song thinks that they discovered harmony. EVERY TIME the chorus comes around, that harmony kills me. It is emphasized the same way each time. Come on people, we get it, harmony, big whoop. Do something different. It's like baroque ornamentation, if you do the same ornament each time a musical idea happens, it's going to get old and start annoying your audience.

Pop song No. 2
Best Thing I Never Had by: Beyonce

This one won't be so offensive...

I'm a little nervous about this rant because maybe my ear is off, but she is FLAT!!!! Am I wrong? She isn't the entire time, but right at the beginning and every once in a while she just doesn't quite make it.

Who let this song get recorded? I feel bad hating it so much because I actually think Beyonce is very talented. I'm also glad that she isn't one of many artists choosing to auto-tune the heck out of their music -- but sorry, that means you have to sing it tune!

Memoirs of a Bus Rider.....

2011-04-14T21:05:00.000-07:00

What does this...

and this....

Have in common?

Well! Today on the bus, a homeless man had a binky rubberbanded to an iphone.

Yup, that's right. I heard his speech about how "A binky is to a baby, as an iphone is to an adult."

Thanks goodness for the S.A.T analogy section, or I might not have understood what he was talking about.

Recital Pictures

2011-03-27T20:23:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of the recital. Enjoy!

Playing a little Bach

Alice giving me some flowers. I think that's my Dad standing up :)

Thanks for everyone who came! It was a blast!

There are more pictures out there, but different family and friends have them on their cameras. I'll post more later if I can get my hands on them.

STOP....recital time

2011-03-04T00:59:00.000-07:00

My recital is in 4 days!

I'm pretty excited about my program.
-Partita in g minor by J.S. Bach
-Temporal Variations by Benjamin Britten
-Morceau de Salon by Kalliwoda

Here's my life pre-recital:
-Strep Throat. I have terrible luck.
-Baroque Opera - Alcina, by Handel
-A new oboe cane gouger!
-A fabulous accompanist
-No idea what I'm going to wear

Hope to see some of you there!

Fall Break in Utah!

2010-12-31T14:37:00.000-07:00

San Francisco Conservatory gives its students a few days off in the middle of fall semester for fall break... What an amazing concept! I went up to Utah to go to the Double Reed Round-Up. Afterward I went up to Ogden and spent some time with my sister Alice, and her AWESOME family!

I forgot to snap pictures of the Round-Up, but here are some pictures of my time with Alice. Thanks for letting me come visit! It was so fun!!!

Playing with Ethan! Love this kid!

Alice and Ethan!

Love his face!

We were trying to get action shots of Ethan jumping off the bed.

This one's my favorite. I'm sad his head got cut out of the shot though...

Thanks for the fun trip! I love playing with my nephews!

Blue Angels!

2010-12-25T21:31:00.000-07:00

2 months ago San Francisco was home to an air show and flight training for the U.S. Navy. It was so fun to walk around the city and see (but mostly hear) the planes! Ok, I actually didn't see them at all during the week - I just heard them from my practice rooms, and they are loud!

On Saturday I went to the Marina and watched the air show with some friends. Here are some pictures from the event.

Here I am with my friend Krystle watching the show!

During the breaks they had this crazy pilot, with a tailspin plane doing cool tricks. He made a heart in the air, with an arrow through it! Cool huh?

Can't remember the name of this formation...

Or this one...

Ah, but the real entertainment belonged to a certain homeless man, who should have a place in the Guinness Book of World Records...

for the longest matted hair dread. (This picture was taken without permission...please don't sue!)

Feel free to leave comments about the hair. I was so fascinated yet disgusted at the same time...

Bus Story #2

2010-11-09T00:29:00.000-07:00

The title of this post is a total lie. This should be "Bus Story #500" or something, but I haven't been that great at keeping track of them all.

This day has been SO long. This sums it up: practice, snack, class (AKA zoned out), Zelenka coaching, intense/scary professor, Orchestra, Chocolate shake :), practice, Barber coaching, D'Rivera Coaching, 2 hour freaking amazing oboe recital.

**Please notice how food is only mentioned twice. I am starving and tired.

Scenario: On the bus home.

It was rather crowded, including some non-San Fransican looking folks. One in particular was looking really cranky. Said man yells across the bus to his buddy "Is this our stop?" His friend, who was looking quite at home yells "No man, it's the next one, Relax!" Other guy replies, "I don't care! I'm getting off!" and makes a run for the doors. His friends gets up, and tries to chill him out. The guy starts yelling, "I can't stand it! This bus is full of crazy people! They all have schizophrenia! I'm getting off!"

He got off. Thank goodness, because he was being really rude, and was making me mad.

I would rather be on the bus with a bunch of crazy people than a jerk who thinks he is above public transportation. Get over yourself, or rent a car.

Coming Soon!

2010-11-05T01:04:00.000-07:00

Blog Posts coming soon! Look for them on these topics:

Longest hair dread EVER
Blue Angels
Mom in SF!
Visiting UT
Best SF Symphony Concert. Still blowing my mind.
Katie's birthday, and wrapping her 80,000 HUGE boxes full of gifts. (slight exaggeration.:)

My computer and camera aren't getting along. Hence the lack of blog posts. Don't forget about me!

Worst pick up line ever?

2010-10-11T22:51:00.000-07:00

Today I ditched a church activity to go downtown and shop. During the last few weeks I've realized that I have a lack of functional clothing. I realize I am a girl, and should like shopping, but I really hate it. Within 25 minutes of being in the Macy's I wanted to leave.

The shopping district here is always packed because of all the tourists spending billions of dollars on ugly Lacoste polo's. Anyway, here is the point of this post:

I was walking to a store, and this guy hit my arm, pointed at his glasses and said "Do these glasses make me look gay? The reason I ask is because I have been hit on ALL day by men, and I am not gay."

WHY MEEEEE? WHY?! He walked along with me for about 2 blocks talking to me about how he tutors at some school for the arts, blah blah blah. I didn't really listen because I was trying to decide if he was hitting on me, trying to kidnap me, or actually concerned about his glasses. Here are some low points I remember:

1. He told me I look like a European tourist. "That's a good thing" he says. At this point I thought..."ok, he's hitting on me."
2. He asked me what I did in the city, (once I reassured him I was not a tourist). Hmm...Thought he was a creeper at this point, and was afraid he was going to kidnap me.
3. He asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. My thoughts: WHEN ARE PEOPLE GOING TO STOP THINKING I AM 16 YEARS OLD? Seriously.

I ditched him when I ducked into a store, and luckily he didn't follow me in -- AND, Just for the record, those glasses DID make him look gay.

Gringotts!

2010-10-10T19:04:00.000-07:00

So a few weeks ago I was taking an urban walk, and ran into this lovely building.

Does it not look exactly like Gringotts to anyone else? I love Harry Potter so much! Harry Potter and the Dealthy Hallows, Pt. 1 - November 19th. So excited.

KiT KoT

2010-10-09T09:39:00.000-07:00

To all of my oboe friends out there (or double reeders), this is for you.

Happy October!

2010-10-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

Well, congratulations to everyone who thought September would never end, or that you'd never make it through. Myself included!

I don't really have any pictures of what I've been up to. Mostly just school and more city stuff. Now that school is in full swing, I'm pretty sure I've taken too much on, but um...nothing I can do about it now! Here's hoping that my fingers move fast this semester, that my face muscles get bigger, and that my diaphragm doesn't give out.

Some students from the Sydney Conservatory are coming in a few weeks to play in a concert with us, so that should be fun. I'll be sure to post on that if anything interesting happens.

I wanted to share some music that I am obsessed with recently. The first is a movement from Stravinsky's Pulcinella. The second is a Bach Cantata, Ich Habe Genug.

Enjoy!

and this one...

Here's to October!

2010-09-23T08:11:00.001-07:00

In an attempt to make things better for myself today...I revoke my comment last night.

I CAN count Cuban Rhythm! I can I can I can! I will.

Twiddling thumbs....

2010-09-22T19:31:00.000-07:00

I am stuck at school until 9pm tonight. I have a quintet coaching. Bah, I hate waiting around. I would also like to add that once this hour of coaching is over, I will have been playing for 6.5 hours today. Let's review...my face hurts, oh, and everything else. More specifically: my right thumb, and my right wrist, and my right forearm.

Also, I cannot count Cuban rhythm.

I freaking LOVE this city!

2010-09-12T19:08:00.000-07:00

Hi to all! It has come to my attention that my daily life needs to be clarified. My sister informed me a few days ago that Mom has been taking notes when I talk to her on the phone so that she can remember everything. Have I been cryptic about my daily comings and goings? I didn't think so, but sometimes I am no good at talking on the phone.

ANYWAY, to clarify...

Classes: Alexander Technique, Baroque Ensemble, Orchestra, 2 quintets, oboe lessons, oboe class, and piano lessons.

Work: Orchestra crew (nothing like getting paid to set up for orchestra!) and Music to Go.

I am playing in an oboe/violin/cello trio for a wedding on the 19th of this month. Should be fun - it is outside, right next to the Golden Gate Bridge. I love my life! AND, the bride has requested the Beatles' song "All you Need is Love" as the recessional music. How cool is that?

So, to explain why I love this city, I give you pictures from Saturdays adventure. Katie, Krystal, and I went up to the Ferry Building to go to a farmers' market that is held each Saturday morning. I bought some delicious Naan, which I know Rada will be jealous of. I'd also like to announce that I have officially eaten 2 strawberries in my life. The jury is still out, but if for some reason I were at a dinner party and had to eat one, I could do it.

Here are pictures from the Farmers' Market.

Here we are ... trying to contain our excitement behind our sunglasses.

The puzzle looking statue in the distance is a fountain by the Embarcadero (The office buildings where Katie works, she is lucky!). It looks really cool from far away, but close up it is one big mess of yellow water and diseased birds.

Here is the Ferry Building - I was mostly excited about the Palm Trees though.

Cool necklaces that were an exorbitant amount of money.

There was a lot of fruit there. I even had some of it.

This is Krystle - she is AWESOME! If you come visit me, we'll hang out with her.

This guy is one amazing rhythm section! Should have taken a video...

I love flower stands! There is a flower shop a block away from my apartment, and sometimes I just like to walk by it and feel happy.

This picture pretty much describes why I love this city. You cross to the opposite side of a building, and you are suddenly looking at a stunning view of the bay, clarinet player included! Isn't is so beautiful!!!? This guy was playing Somewhere Over the Rainbow while we were looking at the view.

Look at the sailboats! Every time I find myself at stunning places like this, I just wish that all of my friends and family were here experiencing all of this with me! I miss you all so much!

Bus Story #1

2010-09-02T17:55:00.000-07:00

This is the 38 bus. I take it to the 47, which takes me to school. The 38 is my friend. I've been told it is one of the nicer buses in the city. For the first few weeks riding the bus was fascinating, but it has now lost its appeal. I've been writing down a few of my stories. I like to call it Memoirs of a Bus Rider. Look for it on the bookshelves in the next few years - it's going to be a bestseller.

Anyway, I've been so tired this week that if I get a seat on the bus (which is rare), I put my bag on my lap, and take a little snooze. It can be really nice to take a nap on the bus. I think it is the moving sensation that lulls me to sleep...

When I got off at my stop today a man got off behind me and was walking really close to me. When I turned around to give him a "buzz off" look, he asked me if he could be my boyfriend.

Uh, nope. Thanks though...

Well, at least someone wants to date me.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

2010-09-01T18:45:00.000-07:00

I just got home from school, and I am exhausted. What should I really be doing right now? Making/eating dinner, returning library books, fixing my reeds, and studying German. Sometimes I am just too tired to do what I really need to do, so instead of taking a 20 minute power nap like a smart person, I'm going to write a blog post.

Last night I finished A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, by Betty Smith. This would explain why I'm so tired. I only had 80 pages left - I just had to!

I loved this book! If you've never read it - DO! I have never read a book that explains the feelings of life so exquisitely. Relationships, patience, selfishness, selflessness, poverty, death, dealing with the loss of loved ones, etc. This story is so powerful.

As is my custom, below are some of my favorite excerpts from the story:

"Dear God," She prayed, "let me be something every minute of every hour of my life. Let me be gay; let me be sad. Let me be cold; let me be warm. Let me be hungry...have too much to eat. Let me be ragged or well dressed. Let me be sincere-be deceitful. Let me be truthful; let me be a liar. Let me be honorable and let me sin. Only let me be something every blessed minute. And when I sleep let me dream all the time so that not one little piece of living is ever lost." (p.421)

"I hate all those flirty-birty games that women make up. Life's too short. If you ever find a man you love, don't waist time hanging your head and simpering. Go right up to him and say, 'I love you. How about getting married?' That is," she added hastily with an apprehensive look at her daughter, "when you're old enough to know your own mind." (p.446)

"Here was a girl sixteen years old...A girl -- in spite of bright-red lipstick and grown-up clothes and a lot of knowledge picked up here and there--who was yet tremulously innocent; a girl who had come face to face with some of the evil in the world and most of its hardships, and yet had remained curiously untouched by the world." (p. 463)

"No! I don't want to need anybody. I want someone to need me...I want someone to need me." (p.466)

"She went out and took a last long look at the shabby little library. She knew she would never see it again. Eyes changed after they looked at new things. If in the years to be she were to come back, her new eyes might make everything seem different from the way she saw it now. The way it was now was the way she wanted to remember it." (p. 487)

Did that make you want to read it? Probably not, but I really recommend it. And if you like it, you might want to try The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls. Also a very good read.

San Francisco Apartment

2010-08-20T14:32:00.000-07:00

At long last, my audition is over. A few things are clear...I need to take allergy medication. Also, next time I play something fast at an audition I will think nice clear thoughts instead of "Ahhhhhhhh" as I play it. Better luck next time.

I thought I'd take some pictures of my apartment in the city and post them. I love it! It is close to downtown, and the bus stop is literally outside the front door, so when I come home everyday it feels like door to door service! (sort of...since I'm on a bus with about 50 other people).

It is a 2 bedroom apartment. I have a great roommate who's name is Katie. I took a pretty awesome artsy photo of her at our last family home evening at church which I will include. It is pretty awesome only having 1 roommate. We both do our own dishes, so there is never a pile up, and there is loads of space in the fridge and freezer. She is starting an accounting job at the end of August, and is a lover of all things chick flicks, taco bell, and running. I think we'll be great friends! And here she is --

Below are pictures of the apartment. I'm not some amazing photographer, so they are pretty boring, but I like it here!

Here is my awesome door. Woot.

This totally snazzy doorbell buzzes people up, because we have a metal gate to make the apartment safe. I feel like I'm in a movie every time I buzz Katie up!

Here is my closet. It is about half the size of my room! So nice to have a huge closet!

Here is the kitchen. The window has a lovely view of some random ditch area outside that connects to the neighbors apartment.

Here is the living. It's cute - isn't really decorated, but Katie and I have a few ideas up our sleeves. That is the weirdest phrase ever.

Here's my bedroom. Very comfy and the perfect size. To the right of the bed is a bookcase, which you can see part of, and a big window. Please notice my sea clamp on my desk. Already has a nice build up of reed thread. Lovely.

Here is the view outside my window. I don't think it is as foggy as this picture makes it seem - I think my window is just dirty (heh...).

Anyway, hope you enjoyed that! More to come later. Tonight the conservatory is having a "movie night" as part of orientation, so I'm putting off going to school until later in the afternoon so that I don't have to come home and then go back.

Loving it here! Excited for visitors sometime, I hope!

Half Moon Bay

2010-08-16T23:57:00.000-07:00

After a long hiatus, I finally having working internet, and let me tell you - it feels amazing! I have a lot to put up here, but haven't decided how to organize the posts yet. I am in San Francisco for good now and it has been great. More posts to come on where I am living, crazy bus stories, etc.

My Dad and I had some time to drive to Half Moon Bay while he was here, and I thought I'd post some pictures from that. A baby seal came up onto the beach, it was so fun to see it up close.

That water was cold!

It was a really fun drive down to the bay -- and very fun to be with Dad.

Hope you enjoy the pictures!

More San Francisco Musings...

2010-07-26T19:57:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago my sister and I took a day trip to San Francisco in order to look at some housing options. It was very stressful working up to the day we left. There was a lot of organizing and emailing, and "craigslisting" that had to be done.
Once we were in the city it turned out to be really fun. Josie was awesome, and she was a total trooper, especially considering that she had a migraine during part of the trip. We took a lot of pictures of the places we looked at, but I won't bore you with those details. Just a lot of shots of empty bedrooms, and bathrooms.

Let me tell you - San Francisco is expensive! Real Estate there is ridiculous. If the trip gave me anything - it was perspective! That 300/month I paid in Provo doesn't seem so bad. And my friend told me on Sunday that she pays $125/mo. for her Flagstaff condo. Holy Cow! Why is San Francisco so expensive? Oh yeah, because it is awesome.

Here are some random pictures.

Here is Josie at Tony's Cable Car Restaurant. Isn't she cute?!

Here I am in front of some government building. We walked around downtown for a while, so I also took Josie to see the Conservatory. There are some crazies around downtown!

And this lovely bathroom is part of my new apartment! You can see Josie taking the picture in the mirror. She likes taking crooked pictures - don't judge her.

Finding an apartment outside of Provo, is HARD. Especially when you aren't currently residing in the city you are trying to find a place to live. It is such a huge relief to have found a place.

It is great - 2 bedrooms, big living room, and 2 huge walk-in closets! And - the price is right, Bob! It's also in a nice part of the city - no crazies as far as they eye can see.

I am now using Craigslist to find furniture. I have a love/hate relationship that website.

Back in the AZ

2010-06-23T18:43:00.000-07:00

I'm back in the AZ after a fun run working as a secretary for a law office for part of the summer. If you are a friend and you didn't know I had left Provo, please don't hate me. I didn't know how to go about saying goodbye to people. I felt stupid have a party for myself, and there just wasn't enough time to go and visit everyone. I've learned my lesson though, and next time, I'm throwing myself a party. I think I dealt with my emotions of leaving by not dealing with them at all.

Being at home has been good so far, and I'm learning that I have to pretend like I have a job so I don't end up shlubbing around all afternoon in my pajamas watching HGTV (I LOVE that channel!). My sister and I have been doing Yoga in the mornings, and it's sad to say that I have been feeling it. I hope we can keep it up - except that we missed doing it this morning.

Last night Josie and I decorated t-shirts for the Eclipse midnight showing. I must say, painting shirts takes for freaking ever! It is hard work too. I'm pretty excited for this midnight showing. It is a trilogy, so we get to watch all three of the Twilight movies in a row. I'm probably going to be really sick of the movie theater by the end, but it is always fun to watch releases with crazy fans, even if you aren't one yourself ;) I hate that I just put a winking emoticon.

What else...I miss BYU. I also miss the music library. I've been practicing, and I need more music and now the only way I can get it is to buy it - which can get a little pricey. Mostly, I just want something Baroque. Nothing like a good Telemann sonata, you know what I mean? Also, per instruction I've been practicing my Rossini excerpt like a good girl, and have been playing it 50x at one tempo before I move it up a click. Go me. My mom works in the room next to where I practice. I think she probably HATES Rossini.

In other news, I've been trying to find the book Bridget Jones' Diary. I've seen the movie about 15 times, and it is literally the funniest movie I have ever seen. I decided I need to read the book, plus it will help with my new project, which I'll blog about at a later date.

Also, Harry Potter Land just opened! I am so excited. I have to go. To my future husband: GREAT honeymoon.

I just finished reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for the billionth time. Here are some quotes that I really liked from it.

"It's high time your grandmother learned to be proud of the grandson she's got, rather than the one she thinks she ought to have."

"Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike."

Thanks for reading my musings.

They don't call it Grand for nothin'!

2010-05-28T10:11:00.001-07:00

3 weeks ago I hiked the Grand Canyon with my Dad and friend Heidi. It was an amazing experience. I am not lying when I say it was the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life. We were in the Canyon for 4 days, Tuesday through Friday.

Our first day we hiked 9.5 miles from the rim to Monument Creek. We hiked the Hermit's trail and part of the Tonto trail. The Hermit trail was downhill the entire time. I now know why my Dad said downhill is harder than uphill. I didn't know I had some of those muscles!

That night we were so exhausted that it was hard to finish our dinner -- freeze dried chicken teriyaki and rice...yum! I'm not kidding, it was actually pretty good. I'm not sure if it was because I was starving or if it was because it was actually good, but I think it was tasty all things considered.

On Wednesday we left our stuff at the campground and hiked down to the Colorado River. In 2 days we'd hiked from the rim all of the way to the bottom of the Grand Canyon! Pretty awesome. The water was freezing, but it felt so good to take off our shoes and soak our feet. I also soaked my knees because they were giving me a hard time.

Around 3 o'clock on Wednesday we started our hike to the next campsite. This hike was only 3.5 miles, but it was by far the hardest. I am sure it was because we were all tired, yet we all knew we still had a LOT of miles a head of us, and 2 more nights of camping on the ground. We also had all of our water containers filled because we couldn't fill up with water until Thursday night.

We stayed on the Tonto trail, and on our way we found this big sweatshirt that someone dropped, from a company called "Dan's Concrete Pumping." This sweatshirt saved my life! It got cold at night when we were outside, AND I used it for a pillow. Thanks Dan! I googled the company - they are located in Ysabel, CA. I might call them and thank them for dropping their sweatshirt in the GC!

That night we stopped at Salt Creek. It was an awesome camp sight! There wasn't anyone else there, so there were no worries at the Pit Toilets (gag). It's pretty amazing - going to the bathroom in the wide open at a pit toilet, and staring at the Grand Canyon...and thinking that it is possible that someone is staring at you from the rim. Here is the view from that Pit Toilet: (hah!)

The next day our hike was about 7.5 miles. Dad kept trying to tell Heidi and me that it was 10, and I wanted to cry every time he said it. We knew he was wrong though!

Wednesday's hike was longer, but we knew we were hiking toward water taps and compost toilets (Those are the BEST!) so that hike was a little brighter than the day before.
These camp sites had picnic benches. Sitting on a bench never felt so good.

This campsite was called Indian Gardens. All of the cottonwood trees were so green and beautiful, although they gave my Dad some crazy allergies.

On Friday morning we left bright and early to hike out of the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail - which is 4.5 miles of switchbacks from Indian Gardens to the rim. It was really nice to look at the beautiful views that day.

Bright Angel Trail is one of the most hiked in the GC. There are A TON of tourists traipsing along with their shining white sneakers, or skinny jeans and flip flops. I hope they realized that after they hiked down, they had to hike up.

My legs were really sore by the time we were hiking that last mile, and some foreigner pointed at me and said "Sore Legs!" I just started at him, and in my head thought, "Don't mess with me."

That was actually my general feeling coming out of that canyon. My legs we killing me, I was completely exhausted, I was covered in dirt, and I hadn't showered in 4 days -- yeah, Don't mess with me. I had some hikers stare at me in complete disbelief and ask If I was just coming up from the bottom (Like I had hiked down Bright Angel earlier that day.) I just laughed and told them I'd been in the Canyon for 4 days. I think I gave them quite a scare.

Here are some more pictures of the trip. I wish the pictures did it justice.

The view from the top of Bright Angel.
On the Tonto trail.
Another view from Bright Angel.
View from the Tonto trail.
More Tonto views.
My Dad on our last break coming out of the Canyon. Doesn't he look awesome?
I said I'd never go back...but I really want to go back now. It was an amazing experience, and look how beautiful it is!

Lorna Doone!

2010-05-20T17:03:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I started a little book rivalry in my family. I'd been harassing mom for about 3 years that she just HAD to read the Harry Potter series. Her response was always "I'll read Harry Potter when you read David Copperfield." (This is David Copperfield by Dickens, not the magician in Vegas as many might think).

I think she made this little wager because she didn't think I'd be able to hack Dickens, but was she ever wrong! I finished the beast of a book in about 2 weeks, and I loved it! It is actually one of my favorite books - and holds one of my favorite quotes. She kept her promise and read all 7 Harry Potter books too - yeah!

Josie had the great idea a month ago that we both read Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore. The wager was that whoever won got to make the other person read a different book of their choosing.

If anyone's ever seen Lorna Doone, the movie, it is really cute, and also slightly cheesy. The actress that plays Lorna, Amelia Warner, does a really good job though, and I love her hair! -- I want it!

Josie and I were neck in neck for a while, but she got a little stuck in the vernacular and I finished a whopping 240 pages ahead of her. Go me! Ok, done gloating now.

Although this book was pretty long (647 pages), and there was plenty to sift through (like crazy old-english, ducks, and birds birds birds), I found the overall story very charming. I also really loved the character development - I really felt like I understood the characters by the time the book ended. Some of them I didn't like so much, and some I really loved! There was a character named Lizzie in the book -- sadly, she was a bookworm who thought she was smarter than everyone else, and was a pretty jealous and cranky girl. I hope I'm not like that!

I like to write down quotes from books that I really like. Some of these quotes are a little obscure, but I thought I'd share.

"Gratitude must not be shown by increasing the obligation." -pp. 378

"True charity begins at home." -pp. 585

"He only said it was no matter, there was nothing to forgive. When people say that, the truth often is, that they can forgive nothing." -pp. 272

I don't have a book to read now that I've finished Lorna Doone. I'm thinking about re-reading some Harry Potter's so I'm ready for the movie. I also have Anne of Green Gables from my Grandma. I sort of hate reading about that time period though - something I should probably get over.

What book should I inflict on Josie? Maybe I'll make her read David Copperfield, but she'll probably fall asleep every time she picks it up like she does with Lorna!

If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.

2010-05-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

If you don't understand the title of the post, it is a song written by John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas, and sung by Scott McKenzie. My Dad sang it to me when I announced that I'd decided to go to San Francisco Conservatory next year. I'll be working on their Performance Certificate Diploma. This certificate is what it sounds like: It will be a year of intense practice and performing, and will continue to prepare me for a professional career in music. I AM SO EXCITED HOLY COW. If I get reed burn everyday, then I'll be practicing enough.

I have found this amazing website, called FogBay found here. A local photographer has taken pictures of the city, but in a unique way. What is really neat is that you can look up on a map where he has taken each picture. I recommend checking out the site.

I am very excited to live in San Francisco! The program is a year long, but I'll probably be there for at least 2 years.

The school is in the middle of downtown, literally blocks away from Symphony Hall. It is also around the corner from the SF public library...I am really excited about that. No matter where I go, I can't seem to let academia go! Anyway, The building is beautiful, very state of the art, and also has a lot of beautiful concert halls.

Go HERE and look at the facilities. The practice rooms have individual temperature controls, as well as windows that look out over downtown!

I am currently working on a list of things that I want to do while I am there. Here are some of them - maybe you can help me add to the list.

1. Run across Golden Gate Bridge
2. Understand public transportation (this is a necessity, but this way it will be fun, rather than stressful)
3. Take a picture of myself in the suburb where they filmed Full House. I loved that show as a kid, but man was it cheesy!
4. Go to Alcatraz and quote "So I Married an Axe Murderer."
5. Travel to all of the eclectic suburbs - I am so excited for the Victorian Architecture.

Ok, that's all I got. I need to brainstorm a little more.

If anyone out there has any friends who live in San Francisco, I'd really like to find some connections, so let me know!

Happy Birthday to me!

2010-04-19T18:34:00.000-07:00

I am officially 24! This is going to be a great year - I can feel it!

This weekend I went to my sister's home and we had a little party. Here are some pictures! Thanks to everyone who came!

Rada and Landon! It took me 3 tries to get him to look at the camera. I could stare at that baby all day long.

Thanks Alice for hosting my party, and for making delicious food!

Ethan helped me blow out my birthday candles! Well, I blew them out, but he forgot to blow, so we re-lit them. Plus, I have awesome power lungs, so he never even had a chance.

It was a great birthday! Thanks so much for all of the gifts! Alice and Aaron and the boys got me all of the Harry Potter movies! YES!! I watched one last night, and I'm thinking about watching one every night this week just because I can.

Josie and Abu also got me a birthday/graduation present. Can you see the special detail?
Can't see it?
Yeah! OBOE POWER.

Thanks for helping make my 24th birthday so special!

Jump on It!

2010-04-13T23:44:00.000-07:00

Tonight our ward went to Jump On It, in Lindon Utah. It was a biward activity, and was a total blast! It felt really nice to get my heart rate going after a loooong winter. I'm so excited for it to be warm outside so that I can stretch my muscles. Sometimes my body just feels so tense in the winter - always trying to keep warm.

Trampolines are seriously dangerous! I mean, I know I'm only 23, but sometimes I feel like an old woman. My lower back and shoulders are really tight at the moment, and my brain feels a little jostled after all of that hopping around. There were some moments when my knees gave out, and at one point I felt like my spine bent a little too far in the wrong direction.

All of those tramps brought back some amazing childhood memories though... Do you remember Crack the Egg? Blind Man's Bluff? The game where everybody does a different move and then you have to keep repeating them and then add your own?

I also remember sleep overs on my friends' trampolines, and playing Truth or Dare on them. I really hate that game.

Also, trampolines are so comfy to lay on! Makes me wish I had one so that I could lay on it at night and stare at the stars or something.

Ok, going to bed now. If this makes no sense, remember that I'm in physical pain, and my brain was thrased around for 2 hours tonight.

Something humorous

2010-03-30T20:08:00.000-07:00

Please go to this link: Here

Was he seriously eating twizzlers while he was giving this interview?

Spring!

2010-03-29T10:02:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to thank the weather. I did not wear a jacket to school today! Just thought I'd announce that.

I'm putting off doing something else.

2010-03-25T12:18:00.001-07:00

My friend and I were talking about making decisions last night. This seems to be a trend for us this year. Transitioning is difficult, and it is hard to know if you are doing the right thing. What if you make the wrong choice and miss an experience?

The truth is that there aren't set experiences for us in this life.
If there are things we need to choose between, they are generally right in front of our faces, and we are aware of them. If we are honest with ourselves and our feelings, it isn't that difficult to come to the right decision.

Someday I am going to write a book. I have no idea when, or what it will be about, but It'll be good.

I LOVE reading. Now that my recital is over (which my sister blogged about here) I have been taking a little break from life. This means that I haven't been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. In any case, I've been devouring the book, Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult.

Here is the synopsis:
Moving seamlessly from psychological drama to courtroom suspense, Plain Truth is a fascinating portrait of Amish life rarely witnessed by those outside the faith. When a young Amish teen hides a pregnancy, gives birth in secret, and then flatly denies it all when the baby's body is found, urban defense attorney Ellie Hathaway decides to defend her. But she finds herself caught in a clash of cultures with a people whose channels of justice are markedly different from her own… and discovers a place where circumstances are not always what they seem.

When I first started it, all I could think of were the many Mary Higgins Clark and James Patterson books I've read (shutter). After my obsession with murder mysteries in High School, I honestly haven't been able to read another until this point.

This book is really good, though! The characters are so intricate, and just when I think I have them figured out, something else happens. I highly recommend it.

On another note, I get my stitches out tomorrow. I am so excited to be able to wash my right hand and not avoid my index finger! I get to put lotion on it, and let my skin see the light of day. The best part is that I'll be able to straighten that finger.

You never know how much you use every single part of your body until part of it is compromised for a time.

I need book recommendations, so send them my way! I'll tell you now, I like books with a plot. No non-fiction for me.

Recital Musings

2010-03-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

I am playing this great Trio for Oboe, Viola, and Piano by Charles Martin Loeffler in my Recital next Saturday. It's beautiful, and I love working on it. It isn't exactly simple, and it has recently been overtaking my practice hours.

This morning when I woke up, I realized that I was moving my fingers to the last 7 measures of the piece. The worst part was the I couldn't figure out the intervals, and I finally got out of bed and looked it up in my music. I then continued to have the melody stuck in my head. It finally went away when I looked at the music again and solfege'd it so that I could get it right. Do-Mi-So-Do-Re...Do-Re-Mi...

I am the ultimate nerd. I love it.

I hope this makes you think I'm hardcore. That's what I was going for.

CU Boudler....but more like Fort Collins, CO!

2010-03-12T09:13:00.000-07:00

Here we are in Fort, Collins CO. I love that girl! She is my all time favorite!!! This is the only picture I took. (oops...)

The best thing about this trip was that I got to go with my best friend! No boring plane ride, no hours of silence, none of it! We stayed with Megan's family, and her mom was our chauffeur when we had to drive to Boulder for our audition. The people who live in Boulder, CO are the ultimate tree huggers. I felt way over dressed, and I'm not a particularly high maintenance person! I'm talking socks with shoes (gag), dreadlocks, and unwashed masses...at least it looked like that. Haha.

After our audition we went and saw The Young Victoria. This movie is beautiful! Megan talks about it here. I loved the music, and it satisfied my need for another good period drama. I love that genre more than anything!

We also went to Big City Currito, which i've talked about before here. It's so good. I love food.

We also had a chinese new years party, and ate tasty chinese food. Again, I love food. That same night I took the most amazing nap of my life. It was only about an hour, but I felt like I slept off the entirety of my audition exaustion.

It was so nice to take a break before I came back to school and started the extreme recital/oral exam prepping. Both of those happen next week.

More to come later.

Megan is on a wind symphony tour in Reno, NV this weekend. Shoutout!! I love you, have fun!

San Francisco Conservatory!

2010-03-07T23:06:00.000-07:00

I am sorry it is taking me so long to post about all of these auditions. I've been meaning to finish them, but I keep forgetting and then finding other things to do.

My fourth audition was at San Francisco Conservatory. I must say this trip was pretty spectacular (Notice the different adjective, mom :). Why was it spectacular you ask?

1. I had a layover at the LAX airport. I've heard about this airport since I was about 8 and have always wanted to see it. It wasn't cool at all, but it fulfilled a lifelong dream, so don't make fun of me.

2. I drove in a 12 passenger van in the middle of downtown San Francisco. It was a little scary because the driver seemed lost, but we eventually found our way.

3. I stayed at a fancy hotel! The main floor of the hotel had granite columns, and bellhops! Check out the pictures!

4. I was right across the street from the Orpheum Theatre where they were playing Wicked and other Broadway shows! Sadly, I hate the music in Wicked, so I wasn't even tempted to go. Not that I would have been able to anyway.
p.s. This picture is backwards, and I am too lazy to turn it. Just turn your head. Thanks.

5. My bed had a bolster pillow! It was awesome!

Are you jealous about how awesome the hotel looked?

I was so stressed about this trip, and everything just fell into place. I was nervous about having to take the BART to the school, but found out when I got there that the school was only 3 blocks away and I could walk.

Since this was my fourth trip, I had stopped folding my clothes in my suitcase and checking to make sure I had everything before I left. This is mainly because my room was in complete disarray, and my normally organized life was anything but. When I was getting ready for bed in the hotel I discovered that I forgot my make-up bag. This means that I had nothing -- No toothbrush, no facewash, no makeup, no moisturizer, zilch! This was a huge problem.

I know the school accepts based on musical skill, but I have pride, and I know that appearances sway people. I tried to look my best that morning by pinching my cheeks. I even prayed the night before that I wouldn't look exhausted (like I felt) but I still just didn't look professional.
While I was walking to the school I just thought to myself, "Just let me find a walgreens, please!" Almost immediately after I thought it, I looked up and there it was! A beauty of a sign! I was able to get some make-up and other things so that I didn't feel so blah. It was great. I really think we are watched over all of the time. It is amazing to me, and I am so grateful.

This audition went really well for me. I really loved being able to audition in a music hall, and the teachers we so nice! I felt really invigorated after I was finished, and no matter what happens, I am so glad I went and auditioned there!

Also, there are some weirdies in San Fran. On the way to the school I was called "cutie" at least 5 times by suspicious looking men who hadn't showered. I didn't even have make-up on at that point. Gag.

Southern Methodist University!

2010-03-02T17:06:00.000-07:00

Sadly, this post is going to be rather short. I didn't take many pictures of Dallas, Texas because I really wasn't there for too long, and I didn't see much of the city. I stayed at a Courtyard Marriott, so my hotel room wasn't that nifty either. However, I was amazed by the towel art on the bed.
Check that puppy out (no pun intended, haha)! I secretly think it would be fun to be a maid in a fancy hotel. I mean, if you get to learn how to make dog sculptures out of towel's, sign me up!

This trip was full of cranky people in shuttle's, and I was able to see why prejudice still exists in the United States against anyone who doesn't speak english perfectly.

I was also told by the hotel concierge that my dinner wasn't very healthy. She gave this little piece of advice without me asking, too. I bet she thought she was doing me a favor. What a pal.

This audition was in the afternoon, so I had plenty of time to psych myself out. It went well though, and luckily the shuttle back to the airport wasn't too eventful.

Lastly, the Dallas airport is possibly one of the most confusing buildings I have ever been in.

Feed a fever, starve a cold?

2010-03-02T09:22:00.001-07:00

I am sick. I really hate being sick. I hate it because I am the biggest wuss when I don't feel well. I blame this weakness on my Dad, who is the strongest, most capable human being on the planet, but the second he gets a cold he turns into what I am right now: a wuss. I hope he doesn't take offense to that. I'm just telling the truth!

Cold's are just the worst. You can't sleep well because no matter which way you lay, one of your nostrils is plugged up, and when you're awake you never get anything done because you are either drugged up on stupid pills, or your sinuses are swimming in mucus. I spent half of the night tossing and turning, and the rest of it was spent staring at my phone wishing time to move faster so that I could get up. I think the real low point was when I just started staring at the Geranium growing by my bed.

I am supposed to go teach at snow college today, but I decided to cancel. I can't touch their reeds, so there goes half of the lesson time, and the rest of it would be spent with me muddling my words together and them laughing at me. So instead of making the trek to Ephraim, I am taking the day off, sort of.

Here comes the point of this post.

I am sitting in the library, and I purposely chose a computer by the wall so that no one can see my pharmacy. I have a bag from Rite Aid that contains some Mucinex, tissues, cough drops, and some other pills that will hopefully make me feel better. I stayed away from any sort of antihistamine at the store. My family calls them "stupid pills" and it's true! Whenever I take those I get stupid.

Anyway, I plan on sitting at this computer most of the day. I figure I'm good as long as I've got my little pharmacy. I realize now that this post isn't very funny, but I just wanted to whine about being sick. I am sure you all know how I feel.

Now, about the title of this post: Whoever came up with that saying is really weird. First off, I know this is a cold, and I still get hungry. Also, I feel better when I eat. Here's a little something from Webmd to justify these feelings:

Starve a Cold, Feed a Fever?

Do you starve a cold and feed a fever when you're feeling under the weather? Or is it the other way around? Good news -- starving is never the correct answer.

When you eat a nutritional, well-balanced diet, many other factors fall in place that keep your body functioning optimally. Foods that are rich in nutrients help fight infections and may help to prevent illness. Because a wide array of nutrients in foods -- some of which we may not even know about -- are essential for wellness, relying on dietary supplements (vitamins and minerals) for good nutrition may limit your intake to just the known nutritional compounds rather than letting you get the full benefit of all nutrients available in food.

I am going to start studying now.

UT-Austin!

2010-02-28T21:18:00.000-07:00

My second audition was in Austin, TX. What a place! I'd never been to Texas before, and all of that stuff about everything being bigger in Texas is very true.

My brother in law, Abu, took me to Rudy's, where "no meat for a week makes man weak" is their slogan.
I would have to agree. There is something about protein that makes my body happy. I could eat a medium rare steak once a week! Yum. They also have this amazing creamed corn which I highly recommend.
Josie kept calling me the entire trip to ask what we were doing. I think she was jealous that I was with her husband, and she was stuck in AZ. I liked that she paid so much attention to me, and I wished she could have been there.
Here I am outside of the music building. My audition was at 9am, and it was nice to play bright and early. I find that I play best in the morning when my mind hasn't had too long to psych itself out.

Enormous popcorn cake. Need I say more?

After my audition, Abu took me on a tour of the town. We drove on some back roads, and I was able to see the wide open spaces of Austin, TX. It was very beautiful, and reminded me a lot of Arizona. Anyway, the popcorn and donut pictures were taken at Round Rock Donuts. I never knew this place existed, but I think it was the best donut I've ever had in my entire life! WAY better than Krispy Kreme. The donut in the picture above was called something like "the mother load" or something, and it was about the size of a human head. I didn't eat that one, but I'm sure many Texan men have. It was huge!

Thanks to Abu for carting me around, and supporting me! It was so fun!

Please note that that word "amazing" is not used in this post.

Audition Travels - University of Washington

2010-02-20T14:19:00.001-07:00

Here I am on January 27th, 2010. This was a monumental day. It was the morning that I left for my first doctoral audition. It was the kick off to the next 3 weeks of my life, where I learned more about myself in a shorter amount of time than ever before. (Also...do I have a lazy eye?)

Here is my beautiful reed case. See the dark blue reed closest to the right side of the case? I love that reed. Just had to give it a shout out. It deserves a lot of chocolate in heaven.

Audition 1: University of Washington

Seattle is beautiful! I stayed at a super-cute bed and breakfast about 4 blocks from the University. When I got there they upgraded me to a bigger room. I was pretty much freaking out inside while the owner was showing me around my room. It basically has everything I love...which means it had a reading nook and a fireplace. I was so excited! Here are some pictures!!

I sort of cringed when I saw the teddy bears. Mostly just because I knew if Megan were there she'd be polite to the owner, but after the woman left she'd chuck them off the bed, and say something about how much she hates teddy bears. hahah
Do you see the bathrobe on the wall? I've never stayed at a hotel where they give you a bathrobe! It was awesome.

Here is the cute bathroom. The entire place was so vintage, I loved it!

I got to my hotel around 5, and instead of going out while the sun was up to get some food, I locked my door and busted out my oboe and reeds. Well, I didn't finish fussing with my reeds and practicing until the sun was long gone. I was hungry, but there was NO WAY I was going outside to find somewhere to eat. The Bed and Breakfast was around a lot of student housing, and nowhere near any food.

The great thing about this Bed and Breakfast was that there was a sitting room on the first floor where they had free cookies and coffee/hot chocolate. Well, around 8pm I was getting really hungry, so I just slinked down to the sitting room and took about 6 cookies and made some hot chocolate. It was pretty much the most hilarious dinner I've ever had in my entire life. I felt like a little kid sneaking from the cookie jar.

My room got pretty chilly, so I turned on the fireplace after a while. It was so amazing. I hate being cold, and I love fires because if you close your eyes, you can imagine that the sun is above your head and beating down on your skin. It feels amazing.

It was an electric fireplace, and of course it had a glass covering. Well, I've never had an electric fireplace before, so I was sort of fascinated with it. I mean, it looks like the wood is on fire! Anyway, after an internal struggle, and knowing that the glass would probably be roasting, I tapped the glass with my finger.
Might be a little fuzzy, but do you see that big red mark? Yeah... That is where I got a massive blister on my finger. Just so you know, those glass coverings...they're really hot! Feel free to laugh at my stupidity.

Anyway, the rest of the night I had my finger wrapped in a cold washcloth and was trying not to have a temper tantrum in my head about what an idiot I am.

Yeah. I'm smart.

Moving on! The audition went well, and everyone was so nice! Also, the architecture at the University of Washington is AMAZING!

The most amazing thing is the library and the reading room. As most of you know, I love Harry Potter. I know they are just books, but they mean a lot to me. I have this perfect picture in my head of what Hogwarts really looks like.

Is that not amazing? The library even has a wide spiral staircase. The people who go to this school are so blessed to be surrounded by such beautiful buildings. I could have sat in this room for hours.

Credits to this trip:

Southwest Airlines: Thanks for the coke on the plane, the honey roasted peanuts, and for not losing my bag.

Chambered Nautilus Bed and Breakfast: Thanks for the great night, and my dinner of cookies and hot chocolate. Also...thanks for the TV in the bedroom. I watched about 2 hours of supernanny. I love that show!

Super Shuttle: Without you, I would have had to pay a taxi driver about 50 bucks both ways.

Calvin is my hero!

2010-02-10T08:53:00.000-07:00

This comic is amazing. Enough said.

Merry Christmas 2009!

2010-01-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

This Christmas was a little different for our family. In the past we have all congregated back in Phoenix to have Christmas in our parent's home. I like this for a lot of reasons, and one of them is because Phoenix during winter has the most amazing weather! My dad likes to call me during the winter and leave messages about the temperature. "Hi Lizzy, it's 73 degrees here!" Sometimes after I listen to these messages I get a little mad. Boo Provo weather.

Anyway, this Christmas 2009 I went up to my sister Alice's house in Ogden. The whole party was Alice, Aaron, and their kidlets Ethan and Landon, Mom and Dad, Josie and Abu, and me. David joined us for Christmas day and the weekend, but sadly I didn't get any pictures of him during the week (sorry!!), so he'll be underrepresented in this post. Rada and John weren't able to come because they were in L.A and Rada had to work. We missed them, and having them here would have made it even more fun!

I know Christmas isn't about the gifts, but my mom did a great job this year! It was all things oboe, and I got some amazing chocolate brown reed thread! I am so excited for this color. Maybe it will send vibes to my reeds and I'll start to have some amazing dark chocolaty tone. Ahhh, that would be amazing. I also got a shaper handle and tip, caleb! It is so great. If you don't play the oboe, you might want to skip to the pictures because I'm going to talk music for a minute. I love the caleb shape! I used to use caleb -1 and struggle with my E's soaring into oblivion; however, once I switched to caleb the world became a better place. Now my E's only soar to about...+20, which I can totally control with a little tuner work. Thank goodness! My dad also got me Orchestral Excerpts for Oboe, by John Ferrillo. I am so excited to use this book. I got it bound once I got to school, so now it is easy to open and ready to go! Josie was amazing and helped me out with some plane ticket costs for all of my audition travel expenses. Like I said, Christmas isn't about gifts, but I am so grateful that my family is so amazing and kind! Their gifts were truly needed and I loved them!

Here are some pictures from the holidays!

Here is my mom holding Alice and Aaron's new baby, Landon. He is the best baby! He is so cuddly, and is just content to lay on you. I'm convinced he is going to be a stomach sleeper like dad and me.

On Christmas Eve we made gingerbread houses. Aaron and I were on a team. Our gingerbread house became a garage when the wall's started caving in. Way to go Aaron...it was totally your fault.
Of course, the walls probably caved in because we didn't use enough mortar! Why you ask?

Because Aaron chugged the frosting. Yum.

Here are Dad and Aaron finishing up. If you notice that dad's gingerbread house isn't very decorated, it is because Ethan was on his team, and he ate all of the candy. I love that kid.

Here are some shots of me with Alice and Mom. It took mom about 3 shots until she finally got one with her eyes open. It turned out great though.

Those are just some general shots of Christmas morning. Feel free to post about how cute my nephew Ethan is!
Josie, Abu, and David joined us after Christmas morning, and apparently I forgot to use my camera the rest of the weekend. Abu got a Wii, and we played a lot of Wii golf, and also ate a lot of amazing food!

The Christmas holiday is always so fun, but also very exhausting. I think Ethan and Landon were completely exhausted by the end of the weekend. I love this picture. Alice is the cutest mom in the entire world.

Thanks so much for such a fun Christmas holiday!! I am excited for all of the Christmas' to come with my family. They are the best!

Colorado!

2010-01-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

I think I have lost all of my blog followers because I blog so infrequently. If you're still out there, give me a comment! It will boost my blogging self esteem.

This summer Megan, Jessi, and I went to Colorado for our culminating trip of the summer. It was also the first trip of the summer. We planned on doing other things, but they didn't work out. Why you ask? Because we let boys be in charge. They'd say things like "This weekend, we are going to Lake Powell!" We would all get excited, but then Jessi or Megan would think realistically and ask, "On who's boat?"

After some exhausting work hours, and some whining about boys and their inability to make plans or follow through, we decided to make our own plan, and to nix the boys from the picture. Once that happened, we were going on vacation!! Woot!

Colorado here we come! We stayed at Megan's family's home, which was so fun! I love her little brothers and younger sister, and her mom and dad are the greatest! It felt like a bed and breakfast! Here are some pictures of our trip:

Here are Megan and Jessi eating AMAZING burritos from Big City Burrito, an amazing little shop in downtown Fort Collins. Their potato burritos are so good. Mmmm, I am hungry.

Here are the three of us outside of the Budweiser factory. Yes, we went to a factory where they make beer. No one knew we didn't drink alcohol until the end. It was fun, but mostly because there were big shiny machines and some of the other tourists were total bone heads. I think my favorite comment was from a girl who at one point said "Mmm...give me some of that and let me swim in it!" Need I say more? She was strange.

There were also Clydesdale horses, which I must say were groomed to perfection. If horses were always clean and there were no fly's sitting on their eyelashes, I might be more inclined to own one.

Our tour guide served us up some soft drinks and pretzels at the end. We were told that the beer on tap was only a few days old and supposedly amazing , but I think the soda and the pretzels did the same things with the enzymes, or whatever it is that is supposed to happen. Jessi could explain it to you, since she is the microbiologist.

Celestial Seasonings! Yes, we went to another factory where they make something that we don't drink. It was fun though, and they make a lot of herbal tea too, which we can drink. The best part was when we walked into the room where they store the mint, and MAN did my eyes burn! I think everyone in our tour group made some sort of exclamation about the strength of the mint.

We picked up our friend Rulon for this factory tour. It was his birthday too (Happy Birthday Rulon!). We gave him a donut in the morning when we picked him up.

I learned during that tour that I really hate herbal tea. I think I tried about 7 flavors with different combinations of sugar and honey. Bleck. No offense to you herbal tea lovers.

I seem to be caught in a lot of pictures chugging things, so I decided to let Megan get the glory time! We went on a hike up Horsetooth mountain. It was so fun, and so beautiful! Before we went, I had a great idea that we carry bread and cheese up to the top, like a nap sack! Except before I explained the nap sack reasoning behind it, Megan chimed in with "and sparkling cider! Like whine and cheese!" So...we carried a beautiful loaf of some amazing bread, extra sharp Tillamook cheese (the best kind!) and Martinelli's. The snack at the top of the mountain became a quasi middle ages, fine dining experience. We had quite the time opening the bottle (Jessi cut her finger...sorry about that...again) and Jessi even yodeled at the top! We got quite a few compliments about that as we hiked down. We're famous.

We also drove up Rocky Mountain National Park. It was so fun, and on the way we stopped at this little beauty of a store! "Best Store by a Dam Site"! I can't tell you how many amazing Dam jokes were cracked the rest of the day. This amazing store includes T-shirts, shot glasses, and I think even amazing animal furred hats.

Just to relay the shirts, they say: "World Famous Dam Store. Helping kids cuss (and get away with it) since 1906." There is a picture of a kid washing his mouth out with soap too. Hahah, oh man. So great. Megan has even worn hers to school on occasion. I hope she shocked some people! Some of these people at BYU need a good shock once in a while!

The best thing happened at the top of the National Park though, was that I GOT TO RUN IN A CLOUD! It was so awesome. I was so excited that Megan could hear me screaming about it while she was washing her hands in the bathroom at the top of the mountain. (Yes, there was a bathroom at the top of the mountain.)

Here is picture from the top. It was so beautiful. I love being able to go see amazing places like this!

This post is getting freakishly long. We just did so much! We also went on a bike ride. I can't ride a bike very well anymore. At one point Megan turned, and I couldn't find her, so I just went to a park we had passed and started swinging. She found us eventually. That phrase "it's like riding a bike" is a total lie by the way. Maybe I could have figured it out after about a week of practice.

We also did some window shopping in downtown Fort Collins, and went to Walrus Ice Cream. This place was amazing. I got some amazing double chocolate flavor and reveled in it for about 20 minutes. Yum!

We also went to a fish taco restaurant with Megan's family. This was a total blast, and apparently the fish taco's are amazing. I am a chicken and didn't try one (haha, get it?) but they are supposed to be amazing. That was a terrible joke.

We also went to a glass blowing shop, and watched a glass blower. It was totally amazing. I think us wind players could totally hack it! We have the lung capacity!

Lastly, we went canoeing!! It was my first time, and I loved it! This was Jessi's personal request, and I am so glad we did it. We saw some huge bird on the water too, I think it was a Pelican. Here is a shot of the sky from the water. It was a beautiful day, and we got to watch the sunset, too.

Is that not amazing?

I'm so glad we ditched those lame boys and finally made a plan of our own. It was so fun, and really made my summer! I also fell in love with the great state of Colorado. If you haven't been, go!

Please notice how Megan is wearing a kid life vest. I am pretty sure it was too small for Jessi or I to wear. Thanks for making a sacrifice for the team.

Also, I think this picture should go on the front of a brochure.

I love Colorado!

7 o'clock in the AM!

2009-12-13T13:23:00.000-07:00

This semester brought with it many challenges. One of these challenges was Megan's amazing work schedule.

Ever since she began to work at the library, she has had to work at least 1 7am shift. I think the worst was when her midnight shift was right before her 7am shift. Sometimes I think that people who make schedules have no brain.

This semester, Megan had to work 2 7am shift's....in a row. They were painful (more so for Megan) - Tuesday and Wednesday at 7am. I tried to be good about taking her to work in the morning, especially when it started to be freezing cold and pitch black at 6:45am. She was so nice and always warmed up a rice bag so that it wouldn't feel as cold.

To begin this story, I have to tell you that Megan and I are not morning people. I can be if I've had enough sleep, but if I am still wishing I were in my bed, don't expect much conversation out of me. Because of this, we had very little conversation during the drive the school.

Last Wednesday was the last 7am of the semester. It was an exciting morning, except that we didn't actually act excited. I might have done a little jig when I got home, but I don't really remember. Anyway, in honor of the end of the 7amers, I would like to give you a glimpse of how these rides in the car went.

Morning 1 --
Megan: "Ughhhhh."
Lizzy: "uh huh."
Megan: "It is freezing."
Lizzy: tosses Megan her rice bag
Megan: "Ahhh...thanks."

Morning 2 --
Lizzy: "I hate your job."
Megan: no response - (I think her eyes were closed, and she was trying to sleep)

Morning 3 --
Megan: short chuckle (at someone running to school with their backpack on one arm and flailing about)
Lizzy: a longer chuckle

Morning 4 --
Lizzy: "People are weird." (at someone running...for exercise)
Megan: "No kidding."

Morning 5 --
Megan:"It is so cold." (this morning she warmed up her own rice bag)
Lizzy: "This is not happening next semester."

Morning 6 --
Megan: "I am so tired"
Lizzy: "I am sorry."

I kid you not, I don't think any other words were said, other than "bye" and "have a good day." I think once I asked her if she wanted her keys or something. Who knows.

So there you go. If you see us up before 7am, we will only talk about the weather, how people who get up early are weird, how much we hate whatever it is that forced us to get up so early, or maybe a chuckle at someone who is doing something particularly hilarious.

I love ice cream!

2009-11-20T14:21:00.000-07:00

Has anyone tried this ice cream flavor? It is amazing! I don't eat ice cream very often, and when I do it is usually Western Family brand at my grandparents house. ..which means it is about 3 years old and has ice chunks. I am a good grand-daughter though, and I pretend like it is the tastiest thing ever. Sometimes I bring my grandparents new ice cream as a gift, but it is really so that I can avoid the old Neapolitan.

Anyway...

Yesterday I went to a concert and then I ran to our local Smith's to grab some french bread for dinner. While I was wandering around the grocery store I was talking to Josie (my sister) on the phone, who was bored out of her mind waiting in the movie theater for the New Moon Twilight movie. Needless to say I wasn't really paying any attention to my surroundings, because I was making fun of her. I somehow ended up in the ice cream aisle...I think my subconscious was telling me it was time for ice cream. While I was rooting around the Ben and Jerry's flavors, some JERK pushed me aside to grab ice cream. My thoughts were: "Punk! Who does this person think they are! I'm going to punch them!" Once I looked up, I realized that it was Megan being funny. It was pretty hilarious. I was laughing hysterically, and everyone around us probably thought we were really annoying.

I wonder what I would have done if it really had been some punk who had an ice cream fetish? I probably would have just stared at them and thought they were a freak. I am not sure I could actually punch someone.

Anyway, I got that mint ice cream flavor. It is delicious. Megan got some kind of cookie dough flavor with extra dough chunks. Did you know that ice cream tastes better with a fork? Who knew.

It was a successful Thursday.

I am back, by special request!

2009-11-17T18:02:00.000-07:00

I warn you now, this is going to be long winded...

I have been spending most of this week in front of my computer trying to finish my applications for doctoral and artist diploma programs. Who knew that this endeavor would take over my entire life. I feel guilty that I am writing this right now, but I took a break from applications to study Stravinsky's neo-classical period for Music 606, and I just can't handle it. Now onto the non-depressing part of this post...

Megan, as all of you know, is my best friend. We somehow know everything about each other. She is the greatest. When I came to BYU, it was a bit of a difficult transition. My roommate, whom I had known in high school, took a 180 when she got here. She was the kind of girl in high school who wore skirts everyday, and didn't read To Kill a Mockingbird in honors english because she was too sensitive. When she got to BYU, she took a trip to American Eagle, and suddenly had a date every night. Trying to balance her old and new life, I often woke up in the middle of the night with our door wide open, and her snoring in the hallway with her face smushed into her Book of Mormon. You might think it is hilarious, but it isn't when it happens every night. Anyway, I didn't have any close friends, and I was starting my major which basically terrified me.

Megan entered my major with me, and although it was a rocky start with our friendship, I finally forced her to love me. Apparently, when you won't leave someone alone, and you aren't terribly annoying, they'll usually crack and let you be their friend.

This is the first of many posts to come (if I live through these applications) that will introduce you to the awesomeness that is Megan and Lizzy.

Megan is a list writer. Do you know what that means? Yes, it means that she writes lists, but let me explain in more detail. At the moment, our room is a little dirty. Craziest semester of our lives + applications + our roommate using the washer/dryer + not enough space = dirty room. If I were to root around on our desk, I kid you not, I could find at least 15 lists written on random scraps of paper.

I will now root.

Ok, here is the result of my rooting.

18.

I found 18 lists. These lists are written on some sort of medical posted note, library scrap paper, blue posted notes, pink posted notes, and church bulletins. Found on these scraps are the most random things in the entire universe. Sometimes, when I feel down, I just find a list of Megan's, have a good chuckle, and my spirits feel instantly lifted.

Here are few good one's from the 18 lists in front of me:
picnic
bike ride
Mt. Timp
Camping
Drawer-dividers (this is one of my favorites)
tie reeds (this is seen multiple times)
tidy room
water plants
groceries
cold frame project
watercolor
this sunday - get everything done
BX 8643 .658 .Oa53s 2008
check stocks
Never eat alone
Stupid Copier!
Caulk windows
Posse stew
Thai roll-ups
racial profiling
social darwinism
affirmitic action
treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848 (what??!)

Are you laughing yet? Because I am.

A lot of it is stuff that she needs to do. I think it is the format that is totally hilarious.
My favorites in the above list are Stupid Copier! Never eat alone, check stocks, and social darwinism. If you want to know what it all means, ask Megan, because I have no clue!!

Last week was one of the best list weeks. I was getting ready for bed one night, and I was in the bathroom going through my routine. Megan was in our room doing something on the computer. I found a blue posted note in the bathroom that said "Who does she think she is!" I brought that one into our room, and asked her what it meant. After a good laugh, she told me it was the name of a Documentary that she wanted to watch. I was glad to find that out, because I thought maybe she was mad at me, and was leaving subtle hints around the apartment.

Some of my favorite lists have been tossed. We have been living in this apartment for almost a year and a half now. The lists get tossed about every 6 to 7 months. Sometime last winter semester I was up before Megan, and I found my favorite list of all time on the kitchen table. All it said was "Learn Latin."

I used to not write lists. I used to be able to retain all of my to do lists in my head. Not anymore though. Thanks to Megan and her amazing lists, I have started writing lists of my own. We have shower crayons, and last week when I was feel mildly dejected, I wrote a list on the shower wall titled "What I'd do if I had time"

Items on this list:
Haircut
clothes
shoes
read a book I actually like and finish it
clean like I want to
watch a movie
have a good cry
play solitaire for 1 hour and not feel guilty

If you've never tried to write a list before, you should try it. It clears your head of stuff that just takes up space, gives you a lot to think about, and they are really hilarious when you find them 6 months later! Thanks Megan! You changed my life!

Ludovico Einaudi

2008-12-06T11:50:00.000-07:00

I'm making a plug for Ludovico Einaudi.

He's a composer from Italy, and I love his music. He writes for piano and orchestra. Look him up and listen to some of his works. YouTube has some clips. I've been trying to find music like his for so long, and I love it.

Car Troubles

2008-10-21T14:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a busy day. I was so glad that I drove to school so that I could get home fast because I had to book it home for another thing I had to do. Around 5 I got to my car, got inside, buckled the seat belt, stuck the key in the ignition...and that it's. It didn't start! How depressing. I was too busy to deal with the lameness of the problem, so I walked home and dealt with it today.

Thank goodness for mothers with AAA! I called AAA and got a tow truck out there. It's really confusing to explain to a random person how to get to the Law school parking lot, and how to find your car among the masses. Luckily when I parked it yesterday, the person in the parking spot in front pulled too far in, so the back end of my car was sticking out. It probably looked like I was the worst parker! (Which I am).

Anyway, his name was Tom. And he reminded me of this guy I dated last year, which was really weird...except he smelled like smoke, and he probably didn't have commitment issues (haha, I'm funny).

Anyway, he banged around for about 30 minuted trying to get it started. And he kept yelling for me to try and start it again. During this time people started meandering to the parking lot to leave, but about 6 people we trapped because of the tow truck. It was pretty funny watching the squirm around until they finally got up the courage to ask him to move the tow truck. I just sat there thinking about the hilarity of the situation. I probably would have just sat in my car and waited for him to leave...but I'm a hermit and don't like talking to random people.

Finally Tom decided that he wouldn't be able to get it started, so he chained it up and I put it in neutral and had to "back-up" onto the truck bed. Well, this might have been easy except for the leak in my power steering, and the fact that there is no more fluid!!! It HURTS to crank a wheel when there isn't any power steering fluid. Try it sometime, and you'll understand. We finally got it on the truck and I gave him the keys. He drove away...with my car...that won't start.

Then I called Frank, my mechanic. Yes...I have a mechanic. He is actually really nice, and I'm pretty sure he knows me when I call because I've done it about 6 times within the last month. I'm almost positive that he doesn't lie to get more money out of me either. It's a good thing too because my credit card bill keeps getting bigger because of this car.

Well, hopefully I'll get it back soon and I can be done with my car troubles.

Cheers to Tom and Frank. They made my day.

Summer Goals - update.

2008-08-19T13:37:00.000-07:00

ok, I'm updating on how the goals went.

1. I've read a few books, but not enough. I blame this on the graduate placement exam that is coming up on August 29th. I've mostly been reading my music history textbook.

Good reads:
** "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by: Jonathan Safran Foer
This is by far one of the best books I have ever read in my entire life. I am excited to read "Everything is Illuminated" when I have time.

** "Break Dawn" By: Stephanie Meyer
I'm not sure if I can classify this as a good read. Let's just say that it was necessary. I just had to know what would happen to Bella and Edward. I'm don't dissaprove of what happened. I admit, it fulfilled me for a few days. I am glad the series is over though so I can move on with my life.

2. Throw a fun party - this is probably the only goal that I really accomplished. I did it twice too! I think it's because it was summer. I don't expect myself to put on parties during full time school. Maybe I'll try though.

3. Get skinny/healthy- nope. I put this on the backburner because I didn't have enough time for work, practicing, studying, and working out. I had to kill one of the goals and this was it.

4. Practice - I would like to think that I did this pretty well, but I don't think I'll ever feel good about how much I practice, so no comment.

However,
I did do some totally funy stuff! I went to see my sister for the 4th of July in Ogden, UT. I love her little baby. Ethan is the coolest. I have way too many pictures of him. I also went hiking with my Dad at Zion's national park. This is wouldn't say was "fun" but it was a good experience and taught me a lot about myself. Plus, I had fun roaring to Ethan at the dinner table that night.

Pictures to come.

Ode to Bangs

2008-08-06T15:52:00.000-07:00

Bangs....they are so great. They cover up blemishes on my forehead (although they probably make them too). The best part about bangs is that I know my hair is still growing!

My hair has been short my whole life. I'm actually trying to grow it out and it seems to be taking forever. It has gotten pretty long, but I am still working on it. Anyway, at this stage in my hair length, it starts to get a little frustrating. It's impossible to tell that my hair is growing because it is so SLOW. Ah, but this is why I love bangs so much - I have had to cut them three times within in the last 2 months, which means that my hair is actually growing.

Go bangs. Woot.

"Have you seen my glasses?"

2008-08-05T09:19:00.001-07:00

I don't think I'm a natural blogger. It takes me too long to type, and I naturally make a billion mistakes because my brain thinks faster than my fingers can make sense of it, and then everything gets jumbled. I think I need a bigger brain...or at least a smarter one.

Anyway, Update on my life: The genealogy conference is officially over. It ended with quite a bang though. At the end of the conference this old woman, who was actually pretty friendly came up to the desk and ask for the 50th time if we'd found her glasses. "No...we haven't found your glasses." She lost them at the library - so why would someone turn them into our desk at the conference center? I don't even know if she went back to the library to look. Oh well, I'm sure she was old and had a bad back and sore legs from walking so many miles in the snow with bare feet. Ok, that was rude. Anyway, so you know a conversation is going to rock when someone says "Is it ok if I make a suggestion?" The funny thing is, what are you supposed to say to that question? "No, please don't make your opinions known, I really don't give a crap." Well.. Ok, that's what I would have liked to say. Instead I just smiled and said, "what is it?"
Here comes the fun part - she asks if it is possible to BAN rolly backpacks from the conference because "i've almost tripped over about 6 and I think they're a hazard." Well, ok I can sort of understand where she is coming from, but mostly I just think to myself...Lady! Look at the ground while you walk and avoid the rolly backpacks. Anyway, meanwhile a younger woman comes up to the desk - well, I'm pretty sure she overheard the conversation from the beginning because she starts flipping out about rolly backpacks (she had one) and how she has a bad back and if anyone has a problem with her not hurting her back then they can take it up with her, bla bla bla. Truly Awkward! The older woman begins to shrink. Her passion about those dangerous rolly backpacks is burned out, and I can see in her eyes that she wishes she had never brought it up. After all, that is why we have evaluation forms. Anyway, in the end the younger woman stormed off, the older woman walked away grumbling, and then came back about 5 minutes later to ask my all time favorite question, "Have you seen my glasses?" NO!

Sneeze, food, words...

2008-07-29T12:54:00.001-07:00

First of all, I would just like to announce that I just sneezed so loud and it was totally embarrasing. That's all.

Secondly, I just went to the new Cannon Center for lunch, and holy freaking cow! Oh my giddy aunt it was amazing! It was HUGE and the architecture was really beautiful, not to mention the food was amazing. I know that I have a problem with socializing - but my favorite part was that you don't have to talk to anyone! The food is set out on plates already made on these warmers, so you don't have to tell an employee which side you want with your chicken. Instead, you just grab the plate and it is amazing. Woot woot for the manager and developer of the canon center.

Thirdly, yesterday I was evesdropping on an interview my boss was having. He asked the question, "If you had one word to describe yourself, what word would that be." I automatically thought, I hate that question! There are so many words - but which is the best? Well, his answer was "gregarious." What a good word! Man, I never would have thought of that - mostly because I didn't even know what it meant until I looked it up on dictionary.com. So, now I know that answer to that question when I have my next interview.

Art Exhibit

2008-07-18T13:29:00.000-07:00

Last night Tara, Megan, and I went to the opening of the new art exhibit at the MOA. There were some paintings there by Jules Olitski....She is amazing! Google her!

Paper Folder

2008-07-18T08:39:00.000-07:00

There I was, minding my own business, doing some errand that I needed to finish in order to feel like my life was going somewhere when a wrench was thrown in my plans! I was using the paper folder at work when a piece of paper got jammed. You would think that it would be easily fixed, since it IS a paper folder, and it is destined to get paper in it, and possibly stuck. Well, no! Everywhere I look there are bolts, nowhere does a part of the machine easily slide out. Bolts everywhere! Not only could I not figure it out on my own without a screw driver, but the instructions were missing the section on fixing a paper jam. I am pretty sure that the woman in charge of the machines in our office removed them from the instructions because she thinks us incompetent. I would just like to say that if the instructions had been there, I could have figured it out!

Mexican Hat Utah..HA!

2008-07-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

At the moment, I am taking a break from making a huge mailing list of every single music teacher in the state of Utah. I'm trying to advertise myself as an oboe teacher. Man, It's hard work. I'm annoyed at city planners who name roads. How many Orchards and Mains and Church streets can there be in one state? My favorite by far is: Mexican Hat High school - in, yes...Mexican Hat UTAH! I want to go there one day just to visit. How sweet would be it be to take a picture by Mexican Hat Utah? I wonder how many other hilarious towns there are in the US that no one knows about other than its residents? Probably countless - it would make for a fun road trip. Any takers?

Well, I better get back to it. I got another employee to help me type them out and I think she's lost interest. It's pretty dull work.

Quotes

2008-07-11T15:52:00.000-07:00

So, I was just reading in my book about judging people, I found it really interesting, so I thought I'd post the coversation here. It would probably mean more to you if you were reading the book. Anyway, I like to keep quotes from books that I really like.

"She had to stop judging people. But. . .was that possible? Wasn't interaction based, in part, on judgments? A person's background and attitudes influenced how she responded to them. The balance, then, must not be to stop judging. It was to be careful to not hold those judgments as immutable."

"Don't judge me for something just because you don't believe in it. And don't presume that you're better, just because you believe something different."

I really like the second quote. I think I'm a freak, but sometimes I get in these moods.

2008-07-11T15:34:00.001-07:00

Sometimes, people really make me MAD. I know that I have a seriously overactive imagination...mostly caused by the amount of books I read. It's so rediculous. No matter what I am doing (mostly) I wish I were in some crazy adventure, having some amazing lovestory happen while I'm saving the world. Anyway, I hate being snapped into reality, so when I do get the fine moment where I am snapped back in, It makes me mad, especially when people are ruining perfectly good experiences.

So, I came back to work and this really cool girl Jenn is working with me. I really like her, she is super nice. Anyway, she's dating this guy, and it seems like she really likes him. So, she texts him all the time and talks to him every night. I mean - cool. I am happy for her, slightly jealous, since I'm pretty sure I'm doomed to only date men who can't commit, or who find something wrong with me instantly after we talk about dating. Enough about my dating issues. Anyway, so last weekend she went home and happened to hang out with her x-boyfriend before her mission. Well, they're going on a date. Tonight. She's really excited...and not really sure what to do because she kind of still has feelings for him. COME ON PEOPLE! Don't do this. That poor boy that she is dating. He has no clue, she didn't tell him she was going on a date with her x-boyfriend, she just said she was doing something. Imagine how he would feel. He thinks that she has her entire heart in the relationship...but she doesn't.

This is why I hate the real world. This is why I read books where even though it seems like everything is going wrong, it always ends up perfect. This is why I like to retreat from this world. People can't figure things out, and they lie and cheat, and are confused. I absolutely hate it.

Maybe I'm labeled "weird" by a lot of people, but is it wrong to enjoy things that take you away from this world and into a better place? I don't think so.

I'm being dramatic, but that's how I feel at the moment.

OH MY

2008-07-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

I just realized something. I know that I just posted 5 seconds ago, but here is another.

I think that my past few blogs have all been goals. CRAP! I need to stop stressing out and stop making goals an just live my life and be happy. It's ok if I'm doing those things, but always thinking about "reaching the goal" is totally exhausting!

So, here is my last goal -

Stop living my life with a checklist in my back pocket. It isn't any fun.

I'm a Drag.

"Get Skinny"

2008-07-09T08:39:00.001-07:00

Summer time...and the goins eaaasssyyy... NOT!
It has been a really long time since I have posted. I know all of my avid readers have been dissapointed (yeah right...). I apologize - I've been at home and on tour, and either had limited use on a computer or i've been watching ER. I love that show. If I wasn't so bad at science, I might have been interested in medical school. Moving on. It's hard to write at home, well...because I'm not bored. I usually do a blog post when I'm bored, or when I feel like I have something to say. Since I rarely have anything to say...I think you get it.

Well, I have all of these summer goals, because to be frank - my life is a joke at the moment. I work from 8-5. That's about it. I've had a few things happen that I'm not really enjoying.
1. My body suddenly turned into a woman's body and not the girl's that i'm used to. Therefore I feel fat and a little too curvy.
2. Reality check - I school starts in 2 months and I'm starting my masters in performance.

Goal 1-
"Get skinny"
To those of you who know me, I know that you don't think I'm fat. I know i'm not fat too. But, I don't FEEL good about myself, so I'm working on it. I'm starting a workout regimen and I am determind to make it work. I refuse to have fat on my stomach - even if you don't know it's there! I'm also fixing my sweet tooth problem.

Goal 2-
"Get Healthy"
I guess this goes along with goal 1, but this has to do with eating and oral hygiene. Don't freak out, my teeth are perfectly fine and I brush and floss and the works. I recently had 3 cavities filled - painful experience, I hate novacane. Anyway, I thought to myself 'how did this happen?' I love my teeth and they love me! Well, Doh! I eat WAY too much crappy food. Not only is the sugar intake affecting my spare tire (which is getting too big) it's making my teeth have issues and that is just NOT aloud. I REFUSE to have denchers or vineers. I've cut out sugars -I get 1 a week, and sunday is a free day. I mean, I can't offend my VTs when they bring over cookies. Plus, it isn't like I look like a pig, so it's ok to have a day off, I just can't splurge on that day off.

The great this about it is - I haven't really had a craving for sugar lately. It was pretty hard when I first started, but now I don't really think "I want a brownie." Ok...that's a lie. Sometimes I do think that, but the fact is, I don't go get a brownie.

Goal 3-
Practice Practice Pracitce. Here is the tricky part. I work 8-5, and then I eat dinner, then I go to campus and practice, and then if it's on a day when I work out (every other day) - I go do that. Well, then its ten oclock. I hate not having time to just lounge for a little. I'm not in school, yet I'm as busy as I am when I am in school. It sucks! I know I will just have to come to terms with it, but I don't really want to. I want more time! I know that I could work out in the mornings, but that just isn't me. I value my sleep, and I won't get up.

Sometimes it is good to try and change yourself - but I think that once you know who you are, then you change your actions to fit around that. Is that wrong? I'm not a morning person and I never have been. I've tried to change a lot to be more friendly in the morning, etc...but asking me to become a morning person - no way. Maybe when I'm a mother.

Goal 4-
Throw a party where it's actually fun. I suck at throwing get togethers. It always ends up that no one comes or its awkward because only a few come. So, I'm going to fix that. Not sure how yet, but I've got some ideas.

Goal 5-
Read more. Ok, this is funny. I read a lot...this summer i've already read...6 or 7 books. I guess it's July, but that's pretty good, and it isn't like I'm reading all of the time. I need to read other books though. Biographies, non fiction, etc. Here is the rub - I love romance in books. I mean, not sick romance, but good romance. It's gotta have it or else it drives me nuts. There have been a few books i've read without it, but they've been so well written that it doesn't matter. Does anyone know of any good books I can read that have it?

Random thoughts-
1. I really want to write a novel, maybe I'll start this summer. I need to think of some good ideas.
2. There is never anything to do at work and I am so bored. I'm starting to lose brain cells.
3. Ok, I'm done.

Summer Goals!

2008-04-22T14:55:00.000-07:00

Today, I finished my last test of my undergraduate career and I am officially graduating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy FREAK it feels GOOD. Unfortunately I am still feeling stress over a few things, like packing and figuring out how not to fall on my face at graduation, but I am pretty sure I just need a good nap and then I'll be perfectly fine.
So, here is the plan:
1. Get a FREAKING Amazing Massage to get out all of those undergraduate knots that have been festering in my back since the day I was 5 and put a backpack on.
2. Read the third Installment of the Twilight series and let it take over my life for about a week.
3. Read A new Charles Dickens book - I'm thinking Bleak House
4. Read a new fantasy series and get freakishly obsessed
5. Go swimming twice in the same day, and watch T.V. for the rest of it
6. Make Dinner for my family and make sure it actually tastes good
7. Do the coolest jig in the world and teach a dog new tricks
8. Sleep, watch some stupid lifetime movie that is so stupid yet oddly fulfilling, and then sleep some more
9. Don't stress ever
10. Call some friends and blab forever and try to crack some jokes that I'll probably just get pity laughs for
11. Figure out a new style fad that I am going to make cool
12. Actually Whiten my teeth and do it everyday so that the dang stuff actually works!
13. Organize my Mom's house for her...She loves it when I do that.
14. Paint my old bedroom a color that doesn't blind me and that is actually cute for company. I'm think a nice off-white, or a brownish tan...any ideas? I hate Yellow in bedrooms. If I'm grumpy then I don't want the walls smiling at me.
15. Attack my sister and ACTUALLY WIN!
16. Go to my sisters wedding and be totally excited (this won't be hard)
17. Throw my nephew in the air and make him giggle!

Any good ideas? I'm open for suggestions.

I think my IPOD knows me...

2008-04-12T16:07:00.001-07:00

Today as I was walking home from a long drawn out day of being semi-productive, I had no clue what music mood I was in. So, I put my IPOD on shuffle and got ready to press the next symbol 80,000 times until I finally found something I felt like listening to. Well, who would have known that I was in the mood for some sweet hip hop? Not me! I was tired, exhausted, and my shoulder muscles were going through excruciating pain in order to carry my back pack, and my music bag home. I felt like it might be more of a church music, or classical music time, but no. My IPOD knew exactly what I needed- hip hop, to bring my mood up and buoy my spirits. So, I would just like to say, Thanks IPOD, you're a pal.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah Lord...I love Charles Ives. aka "little Charlie"

2008-04-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

GREATEST MOMENT OF EXCITEMENT: I just finished running my last MCAT and DAT course for the rest of eternity. No more grumpy college guys who whine about not learning anything, yet never go to class. No more girls who think they're the greatest gift to mankind because they have the ambition to be a doctor. No more whiny pre-dentist who are content with knowing that someday they will inflict pain on someone everyday of their life! Never again will I work with the scariest organic chemistry faculty member alive (he loves me by the way)! NEVER.

Moving on...

I am going to Utah Symphony tonight, and some famous violinist is performing Mendellsohn's violin concerto. I LOVE that piece, I am so excited. Finals are coming up, and I am SCARED. Mostly I am afraid for all of the stuff that I have to do before finals. I have...1 presentation, 1 project to finish (before the presentation), 2 papers to write...one of which is due Tuesday, another set of papers to turn in on Tuesday, and 1 listening final, and one MC final. This is all supposed to be finished by Friday. Possibility- yes. Still living after I am finished - not likely. At the moment I think I am being sort of funny, but I have a feeling that the humor isn't coming through. At least there is absolutely NOTHING going on at work this next week. Hallelujah for that. I'll probably just park it on my chair and read other peoples blogs and the hundred hour board and get paid for it.

I'm not even going to spell check this post for content. Just read through the mistakes and try to interpret as best you can. I suck at typing when I'm excited.

Work

2008-04-08T13:50:00.000-07:00

I keep forgetting what to write because I keep getting interupped by my phone. Some random no namer is calling me. This happened last week and some guy left a message for some lady about his dog's vet appointment. Needless to say I knew WAY too much about that old guys dog by the end of the message.

I'm sitting here at work and feeling totally bored. For some reason I can't get myself to actually work while at work. I mean, I have to show my face so that I don't get fired, but mostly I just sit here and read blogs, or the 100 hour board (which I still need to do by the way) or go chat with other people in the office. I know, i'm so bad! It isn't that I don't have stuff to do, but since it isn't pressing, I don't feel a need to really dig in and get it done. Why am I like this? It is mostly just with work, but school has been like this lately as well. For example, I have a presentation on Thursday and Friday of this week. Both presentations are accompanied by papers due next week. Well, I have only mildly started both projects, and even though I feel stressed I can't help but succumb to the thought that I could do it later...

Advice? I would like to blame it on burn-out, but this is a lame excuse.

April Fools Day

2008-04-01T14:10:00.000-07:00

Once a year we get to celebrate this grand day of practice jokes. I'm really enjoying everyone being more laid back and less stressed! Sometimes we get so stressed we lose our sense of humor. Thanks goodness for mr. April Fools who brings a little laughter and fun to our lives.

Here are some good one's i've seen so far:

1. A sign on the bathroom that said due to physical facility funds patrons, faculty, and students will need to bring their own toilet paper to the bathroom. I stared at this for about 3 minutes until a professor told me it was a joke. I felt like an idiot, but it was hilarious.

2. The boss in the office next to mine was told that he had to call a lady back named "Myra Manes." The number he was given was to a mortuary. When he asked for her, the guy on the other end told him he'd been had. Hahahaaaha. MAN, that just cracks me up. I bet people who work in mortuaries hate this day.

3. I tried to turn up the volume on the phones at work so that people jumped out of their seats when the phone rang, but dangit! Everytime you turn up the volume it makes a noise, so it wasn't very sneaky.

4. Once I put a rubber band around the sprayer on the sink so that instead of it coming out of the tap is sprayed the person who turned on the sink. Unfortunately my Grandma turned on the sink, and I had to save her. Dang, I hate it when stuff like that back fires.

5. At the moment, I'm trying to lull a fellow co-worker into my office so that my boss can go to her phone and put slimy hand sanitizer on the under side of her phone. She hasn't left her chair yet, but i'm not giving up! I hopt she doesn't read this.

I think the mortuary or the toilet paper scenario win so far. Anybody got any other good ones?

On a different note, I'm pumped for the symphonic band concert and the English Horn Solo! Go Scarlet in the Conservatory!

Here we are...

2008-03-31T23:16:00.000-07:00

Well, Welcome to my blog. Here goes the first post. I have no real clue why I just made a blog, except that I think it will be a good way to stay in touch with some friends, as well as release some pent up aggression by using this as a venting source. I'm rubbish at journal writing, so maybe one day I'll print out all my posts and use it as my 'journal'...I'm pretty sure anyone reading this doesn't want to know what I write in my journal though.

So, here is my first whining attempt. I live in Utah; however, I grew up in Arizona. HUGE WEATHER DIFFERENCES. When I first came to school here I thought I would get used to the cold weather. I mean, winter is only a quarter of the year, it can't be all that bad. Well, luckily my blood has thickened up a bit, but MAN. It snowed yesterday and it was March 30th! Can you even believe it!? I hate living next to a mountain...it blocks all of the clouds, so you think it's going to be a great sunny day, then BAM! A cloud busts over the mountain and you're stuck without an umbrella, and only wearing a light jacket. Everytime I put my coat away I have high hopes that maybe...just maybe, I won't need to get it out again. But I always end up having to hang it back on my desk chair until the end of April instead of packing it away. So Utah, my advice to you is to decide on a season and stick with it. People will like you more.